All Anything or Love

I wasn't expecting much from this flick as I didn't know much about Sara Rue and I have never seen the lead actor in anything else before. Considering the fact that he was obviously much older than she, I didn't think there would be much chemistry there. Boy, was I wrong. Everything about this movie, from casting to especially the writing (witty, charming, funny) is a win. Rue is absolutely adorable, and she has great comedic timing. I recommend this to all rom-com fans.

Hallmark movies, for me, are usually 4-to-5-star affairs, formulaic and moderately cute, with interchangeable actors. But Sara Rue completely elevated this movie, in my opinion. She took a character that most other Hallmark actresses would have turned into your stock "America's sweetheart" heroine and made her quirky and engaging. She gave off a "Reese Witherspoon" vibe. Rue totally elevated the script she was given; I actually watched the film thru to the end.

Also a shout-out to Teryl Rothery, who plays Jo's editor. I thought she, too, did a great job with the material she was given.

Now, to be clear, the story itself was still (IMHO) formulaic. I think the plot points unfolded in a very predictable manner.

So for me, the plot is, like, 4-to-4.5 stars, but the actors elevate everything enough to raise my IMDB rating to a solid 6.

Oh, and I felt the first part of the movie--where Jo starts attending the seal boot camp--was a shout-out to the wonderful movie Private Benjamin. Or rather, Private Benjamin as it would be played by Legally Blonde's "Elle Woods" character.

Many romance movies are just average.... this one is a little different. I loved the story and I loved the actors. Somehow the friend and the boss were just right. And don't we just love someone going through mud......just to look charming. It sure is worth watching when you love romantic movies.

I liked the idea of the movie but I think the character of Colin being a "technical adviser" for a romantic novel on a Navy SEAL needed a "technical adviser." I think Steve Bacic would be a little too young to be a retired Navy Captain. That rank is one step below Admiral and he looks just too young for that rank. Lieutenant Commander or even Commander would have been more believable. In the scene where Colin has to save the day by being the photographers model irked me. I didn't pause the movie to check the correct order of all the ribbons although at a quick glance, they looked correct. However, the Presidential Unit Citation ribbon that he is wearing is on upside down. It's horizontally striped ribbon, Navy blue, gold and red top to bottom. His is red stripe up. It is something that would be a glaring mistake to a high ranking naval officer. Bottom line, though I enjoyed the movie.

Romance novelist Josephine Payden (Sara Rue) has not been doing well. Her last two books have flopped. She's alone. Her publisher Diana (Teryl Rothery) is concerned that her newest book with a Navy SEAL male lead is even worst. She pairs her up with an actual Navy SEAL war hero, her brother Colin Kelly (Steve Bacic).

This feels like Hallmark came up with the premise in a weird brainstorming session. It's not the most realistic concept. Romance novels are not well known for their accuracy. Although Bacic could conceivably be Navy SEAL material, most of the recruits do not look like it. The obstacle course is closer to a corporate retreat. On the positive side, Sara Rue is game for anything and she's great. Boiling it down to its core, there is a functional romance and it's a perfectly fine Hallmark movie.