Double Scoop Review 2025 Tv Show Series Cast Crew Online
Hallmark Channel’s ‘Summer Nights’ series is winding down (one more to come) with the sweet treat romance Double Scoop, which pits warring ad agencies and former colleagues against each other to snag a new account – a family-run ice cream company.
The story focuses on Nora and James. Nora worked with James at H Company advertising agency until company partner Alexandra left to form her own company, Rankin Advertising, and hand-picked Nora to join her in the start-up. Feb up with the pressure and the competition and the stealing of ideas and the backstabbing, Nora is more than happy to flee even if the future for a start-up, especially against a well-established competitor, is uncertain. The company is riding on Nora snagging a new account, but James at H Company is also attempting to get the same account and when he wins it really puts Nora’s future and the new company in doubt. Meeting up with her very pregnant friend Shannon, Nora is introduced to Shannon’s favorite ice cream — what she calls the best ever — and despite Nora claiming to not have a sweet tooth, she is enthralled by the flavor — strawberry and balsamic glaze — that is both savory and sweet. Nora also learns that the company, Darlington Farms, has no representation but they are looking to grow their business. After buying a bag of different flavors to take to the office, Nora bumps into James, literally, spilling the containers on the ground. They have a cordial chat but when she leaves there is one container left which he takes, tastes, discovers how amazing it is, and also learns that the company is looking to expand. Alexandra gives Nora the okay to visit the farm and pitch them an offer, while James’ boss Everett also sends him to meet the farm family. Nora arrives at the bed and breakfast first, unaware that James is basically right behind her but it isn’t long before she discovers her nemesis is also there to woo the farmers as they both arrive for their appointments.
Both are welcomed by Matthew and Ann Marie Darlington, and their granddaughter Josie who is there for the Summer, but Matthew has his dates mixed up and it’s dinnertime, so they are both invited to stay but business can wait until tomorrow. Seeing this as an opportunity to connect more with the Darlingtons, they stay but they both seem to be over-compensating with their laughter at every cow joke Josie tells. The next morning they both arrive for their pitches, with Nora laying down some ground rules to keep things fair, but before they can get down to business Matthew informs them that Caegan (whom Nora already met at breakfast at the B&B) hurt his back and can’t help get things ready at the farm for the annual ice cream festival so business will have to wait two days. Nora immediately offers to help get things ready, which forces James to step up as well despite being a 100% city boy, but as the days pass they both begin to feel closer to the Darlingtons, especially Josie, and to each other, putting them in an impossible position when it comes time for their pitches. Leading up to that, Nora learns from B&B owner Violet that a grant to help the farmers in the area pay for their feed is on the line, which gives her the idea to turn the milk bottle ring toss at the festival into a fundraiser, which Farmer Matthew thinks is a wonderful idea. But James also learns about the grant, and learns that the city council is not funding it, so he makes a pledge to Mayor Alison that his company will come up with the money, part of their annual charitable donations. When he phones Everett with the suggestion, his boss thinks it’s a great idea … and it will probably also help James land the ice cream account, but James does not want that contingent to the Darlingtons signing a contract with him. Everett also shares that landing this account will assure James the vice president position with H Company, something he’s competing for against another rep who has a slight edge after he nails a sought after account.
Everything is going well at the festival, and in the evening James and Nora even begin to dance, just about to share a kiss when the music stops and the mayor calls James up to make an announcement that H Company is funding the farmers for the year. Nora sees this as a violation of one of her ground rules — no shenanigans — as an attempt by James to influence the Darlingtons, putting out any flames that may have been developing between them. The next day they both make their pitches, but in the end James wins the account, sending a dejected Nora back to New York City with the bad news. That forces Alexandra to call a meeting which seems to carry a lot of weight. At H Company, Everett is congratulating James on landing the account and the VP position, handing him a tidy bonus … and also dropping the shocking information that he interfered with the pitch, telling the Darlingtons that Alexandra’s company could not be trusted because of some shady business practices. Faced with knowing that his pitch was not the reason he won the Darlington account, James must now make a huge decision — accept his new position or put his newfound morals first and confess to both the Darlingtons and Nora what really transpired, putting his career in jeopardy but possibly saving Nora’s company in the process?
Double Scoop is a delightful rom-com that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Of course there is some drama here and there, but it’s a mostly light-hearted affair that is sure to have you craving ice cream by the end of the movie, if not sooner! The story by Cara J. Russell builds the characters of Nora and James so well that we feel we already know them when the movie starts. Just enough history of the agency and Alexandra’s new company is given so we know there is some tension and uncertainty. The foundation for the story moving forward is a solid one. Things become even more engaging as Nora and James head to the small farm town, and the Darlington family is just as wholesome and sweet as their ice cream … and they have some cute baby animals as well (although I am concerned about the very thin calf). If it’s one thing a Hallmark movie does well, it’s deliver a perfectly idealized version of smalltown America. How could anyone not be enchanted? There is a lot of time spent on Everett, and it’s a shame Alexandra didn’t get more screen time because Elisa Donovan is a gem. Even though the story follows the traditional Hallmark template, leading right up to the interrupted kiss and a misunderstanding that threatens to tear the new lovebirds apart, this one still feels like a breath of fresh air thanks to its well-rounded characters, both main and supporting.
Speaking of which, Taylor Cole is wonderful as Nora. Cole hasn’t popped up on any Hallmark channel since 2024’s A Reason for the Season on Hallmark Mystery. Here she brings a freshness to Nora, someone who has set out on a new path, having thrown caution to the wind with no safety net to catch her. Her Nora always tries to see the bright side of things, and she can be competitive when she needs to be and she does not hide the hurt she experiences when it seems like James has stabbed her in the back to win the account. It is a completely well-rounded and grounded performance with Cole making Nora a completely endearing character. Ryan McPartlin, who played an exec in Hallmark’s 2024 A Very Vermont Christmas, finds himself in similar territory here so of course he knows how to play this role in his sleep. He has to tread a very fine line to keep James on the same level as Nora, in friendly competition with her without crossing a line and becoming the villain, which is ultimately Everett’s role. McPartlin does make James charming, sometimes a step behind Nora but quickly adapts to stay on the same level, and showing that there is a natural attraction developing, one that may have been their from their time as co-workers at H Company. You even feel bad for him when the mayor announces the company donation, something she wasn’t supposed to do until after the festival and after they made their pitches (not that Nora believes him). Hallmark knew what they were doing when they cast McPartlin in the role. If there is one quibble, it’s his make-up. McPartlin is now a 50-year-old man trying to still look 30, but his caked-on, over-rouged foundation just made him look like a walking corpse. Nothing about his make-up looked natural, and it didn’t cover up those crow’s feet. The whole look was distracting. Embrace your 50s, Ryan, and accept that you are moving into role for more mature male actors.
Lending some nice support were the supporting players, including Julie Haught as Violet, Ashley Dulaney as the town’s best mechanic (and general store owner, apparently) Hannah, Charlene Amoia as Mayor Alison and J. Elliott as diner owner Tim, all perfectly embodying that small town spirit, making their characters people you’d want to be friends with. Jacklyn Collier is also wonderful as Nora’s bestie Shannon, always there to lend an ear and offer advice, while Jakeen Hawkins makes for a nice adversary for James at H Company, always ribbing him about snagging that VP position. Tim Abell and Chonda Pierce are a delight as Matthew and Ann Marie Darlington, truly making it feel like they have been together since kindergarten, both of them devoted not only to their farm but to the core values of a family. They know how to run their business, but the business never takes precedent over their family, and they are also very devoted to their community. How could anyone not love these people? Both Abell and Pierce do wonderful work. And Sofia Shakarian is also very cute as Josie, who knows every cow joke in the book … and isn’t afraid to tell James his own cow joke is terrible! Patrick Muldoon also does a good job as Everett, at first seeming like a pretty decent guy but one who quickly shows his true colors as a ruthless businessman willing to go to any lengths to land an account (and that he’s shocked by James’ reaction to his shenanigans with the Darlingtons is all we need to know about the character). But, like with McPartlin, there is a quibble — please get a new haircut because the one you’ve been sporting for the last few years now is anything but flattering, like an old man trying to retain his youth. The thing is, Muldoon isn’t that old but the hair makes him look older. Time for a new look! No offense, but I have to speak the truth.
All in all, Double Scoop is a delight with a solid story, comedy, cute animals, wonderful characters and actors, the usual misunderstanding and the romance you expect, and breezy enough to take the edge off of a hot Summer night … especially if you pair it with a pint of your favorite ice cream!
