Valentine Ever After

This is a film you have to have staying power for.

For the first 30 mins or so it does tend to try and coast off of Autumn Reeser's warm personality and easy comic timing, with the plot being a bit clunky under her boots.

It does grow into itself though, and proves ultimately to be good fun.

The male lead is earnest enough, but this is Reeser's show, and she carries things well.

All in all, it's proves to be good fun.

The plot seemed a bit ridiculous at first but I just laughed it off and especially enjoyed the country music, dancing and cowboys. It was a little difficult to see Eric Johnson as someone other than Jack Hyde (Fifty Shades series) but I'm sure that's just because I haven't seen him in much else. I also really like Autumn Reeser, who always seems effortlessly charming and down-to-earth.

There is a lot of humor in this Hallmark formulaic movie. What sets it apart are the supporting characters; I wanted more of them and less if the leads.

I'm a big Autumn Reeser fan and this was a nice change of character. Usually she plays charming, lovestruck roles but this was a truly comedic role for the most part. Her facial expressions during the various snafus are funny without even speaking. That's good acting when you can express an emotion to the audience without words. I admit the plot is pretty contrived and when the movie moves from comedy to serious romance in the second half it kind of loses something. Her sidekick in crime is also appealing and has a flair for comedy too.

This is certainly my favorite Hallmark movie. All of the actors are good in this one, especially the leads. Eric Johnson is a hunky cowboy and Autumn Reeser plays a girl with a brain and a heart. The scenery is gorgeous and the love story is not contrived like many. One scene between Julia and her fiancé seems ad libbed and a little awkward, but that is a minor flaw. I have seen both of these actors in other movies, and liked their performances, but they are just plain excellent in these roles. When Ben rides up on his horse to greet the stranded girls, he is a cowboy.

I watch a lot of Hallmark movies, but I watch this one over and over.