An Unexpected Valentine

A Hallmark movie that successfully dodges and weaves around the usual tropes that seem to find their way, to one extent or another, into movies from the Crown people.

Lacey Chabert and Robert Buckley are two of the network's most talented stars and they are perfectly cast. Every scene they have together - which is nearly all of them in this imaginative story - are brilliant.

Every now and again, Hallmark gets it right, REALLY right, and this is one of those.

Hallmark really knows how to deliver the goods! Their first premiere in February is An Unexpected Valentine, featuring the beloved Lacey Chabert alongside Robert Buckley from Chesapeake Shores. When Hannah (Chabert) and Finn (Buckley) cross paths on Valentine's Day, they embark on a whirlwind adventure through New York City to return a lost engagement ring and make sure another couple's day goes off without a hitch. Chabert recently lit up screens in The Christmas Quest, marking her fifteenth holiday film for Hallmark Media. She's also been in A Merry Scottish Christmas, Haul Out the Holly, Groundswell, and the Wedding Veil trilogies. Plus, you can catch her in Hot Frosty on Netflix. It's easy to see why she's a perfect fit for these feel-good TV movies-she brings so much charm and grace to her roles.

And let's not forget about Robert Buckley! He played Evan Kincaid in the last two seasons of Chesapeake Shores and has been in a bunch of Hallmark flicks like The Christmas House, Love in Store, and Blind Date Book Club. He's also known for his roles in Hart of Dixie, One Tree Hill, and Ghost Whisperer.

This movie is a delightful and laid-back rom-com that's a blast to watch!

The story is not important in this movie. The allure is in the time spent on screen between Lacey Chabert and Robert Buckley. The chemistry is great and the two of them are completely in sync. There are great lines. There are great moments. There is a little physical comedy, but not in a big way.

Mostly it is just two people who never met before on a quest in downtown New York City to find the owner of the engagement ring that was left behind in Finn's car. Along the way, they make a lot of stops. Some are in hopes of finding the owner. There are others involving deliveries. And a couple of rest stops.

If there were any of the usual check-off items for a rom/com, there were barely noticeable. Oh, there were the main character's close friends egging them on to pursue love, but I really didn't notice anything else cliche. Unless you count the inevitable.

Hallelujah, a Hallmark movie with a different storyline. Lacey is adorable as always but the story is so unique from the trite, just slightly different than the one before it, movies Hallmark has been making, and remaking again and again.

About the only thing you can predict in this movie is that the two main characters, Hannah and Finn will end up together. The adventure that the two embark on includes a lot of fun, unexpected, and yes, maybe not very realistic moments at times, but hey, what's wrong with a little fantasy? Especially around Valentine's Day. I think the script is well written and the stages and props are quality. I think the only downside is that when you look forward to a Lacey Chabert movie, one always expects enthusiastically I might add, multiple wardrobe changes. Somehow Hallmark managed a complete movie with only one dress lol. Good job Hallmark and the entire cast!

There was good chemistry between the leads, Lacey Chabert continues to be the queen of Hallmark movies. But all the driving around New York City, going very fast and always finding a way to pull over to a vacant curb doesn't seem realistic. And we have another Hallmark movie where someone takes a selfie with a camera that has a telephoto lens. That doesn't work. Hard to believe that they made all those stops driving around the city and still got to their events. Timeline does not seem right. That doesn't work either! But the chemistry was good, worth a watch. Supporting cast and scenery was also good.