The Lost Valentine

First of all, it was extremely refreshing to watch a Hallmark movie with background music at an appropriate volume that enhances the feeling of the scene rather than drowning out the dialogue! Plus, the cinematography and arrangement were successful at inspiring the right feelings at the right moments. There is charmingly natural chemistry between Jennifer Love Hewitt and Sean Faris, and the casting for Caroline (Betty White and Meghann Fahy) was absolutely perfect! My only complaint: Jennifer Love Hewitt's fake eyelashes are too big!

Caroline Thomas (Betty White), a grandmother, goes to the train station every Valentine's Day. It was there that she last saw her husband, Neal, who was shipped off to the Pacific during World War II. Also, the two of them, young and in love, were married on February 24th so its a special day. Since the day Caro got the telegram stating that her husband was missing in action, this fine lady makes this gesture of hope that he will return one day. Luckily, she does have loving support from her handsome grandson, Lucas (Sean Faris), whose father never met his dad, Neal, because his birth came after the squadron was sent away, too. By some happenstance, the story of Caroline's faithful station visits comes to the producers of a show called American Diaries. They send beautiful reporter, Susan (Jennifer Love Hewitt) to Mrs. Thomas' house to investigate the possibility of doing a human interest television spot on the war widow. At first, she is a bit reluctant, but soon she is delivering a captivating tale to Susan. Grandson Lucas also spars with Susan a few times but then grows warmer in his attitude. This begins to complicate the situation because Susan is almost engaged to another globe-trotting reporter named Andrew (Will Chase). Then, Caroline has a mild heart attack. Also, Susan discovers that she may have path to discover what did happen to Neal. So, will the program be made and will it include the truth about Neal's fate? This lovely film deserves to be FOUND, by anyone and everyone. It is just terrific in every way, from the cast to the production to the heart-felt story. White doesn't get to display much of her sensational humor but she is great in a more serious role than she normally undertakes. Love-Hewitt and Faris make a very fine, potentially romantic duo. Also, the flashbacks to the forties are made with care, providing a wonderful glimpse into an era gone by. Do you want to spend an evening at home with the best possible entertainment? Then, silly, don't wait and go find The Lost Valentine.

After several months of sitting in my DVR, I finally decided to watch this "Hallmark Hall of Fame" movie that stars Jennifer Love Hewitt and Betty White. Ms. White is Caroline Thomas, an elderly woman who-despite her Navy husband declared missing since World War II-still waits for him to return at the Union Station after about 60 years. Ms. Hewitt plays a reporter named Susan Allison assigned to cover her story. I'll stop there and just say how excellent Ms. White is in her performance. It's probably because of her that I found myself crying several times during the film. Ms. Hewitt, who's also an executive producer, isn't too bad on her end though sometimes I think her character can get a little annoying. Still, she holds her own when she's with Ms. White. I also loved the actors that played Caroline as a young woman and her husband Neil. And Sean Faris is okay as Ms. White's grandson and potential love interest for Ms. Hewitt. And dig the vintage music from the likes of The Ink Spots, The Mills Brothers, and Louis Armstrong! All in all, a nearly excellent picture presented by the producers of "Hallmark Hall of Fame". So on that note, I highly recommend The Lost Valentine. P.S. Was interested enough to watch the Hallmark commercials-both classic and current-spread throughout especially the one from 1967.

I saw The Lost Valentine a few months ago on you tube it was the kind of movie that pulls at the heartstrings and makes you believe that when it comes to true love anything is possible. Betty White is a fantastic woman and actress having seen her comedic performance as Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls and other television shows as well as films.

This is a movie that touched my heart not just because of it's content but also due to the wonderful performances of it's talented cast featuring Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sean Faris, Bill Magnussen & Meghann Fahy. There were a few scenes that brought tears to my eyes such as when White's character learns the tale about her husband's fate and when his body is brought back home and given a proper service, seeing her finally get to say goodbye was emotional.

On Valentine's Day 1944, it's Neil Thomas's (Magnussen's) first wedding anniversary and his pregnant wife Caroline (Fahy) has gone to the train station to say farewell as he goes to fight in World War II. He makes a promise that he might not be able to keep and that is he'll return home safe by the next anniversary, 66 years later a now elderly Caroline (White) accompanied by her grandson Lucas (Faris) has come to the train station every year on valentine's day in the hopes that she will finally welcome her husband home.

The story is brought to cynical reporter Susan Allison (Hewitt) who at first refers to it as a fluff piece rather than the true tale that it is, she apologizes and the interview begins. As it progresses Caroline talks about how she & Neil met, to their wedding day and the house they fixed up that she still resides in and how for all these years she's been unable to get any information from the navy about her husband. Also Susan & Lucas appear to be falling for each other, as the film gets close to it's conclusion she hears about what Neil sacrificed in order for others to live and with help from Susan's ex boyfriend Andrew(Chase) they locate a Filipino man named Morang (Zano) who via teleconference tells the truth about what happened to Lieutenant Thomas he was killed by a Japanese sniper and then buried. Seeing her reaction to the news was heartbreaking, I mean her love for him was what kept her going all those years and never did she give up hope that somehow he would return.

The final scene shows Caroline dancing in her garden reminiscing about happy times she shared with Neil and a vision of him appears with his arms around her while they dance. The Lost Valentine is a wonderful story not just for 2011 but for all times and anyone who believes in true love.

I had always thought of Betty White as a comedienne, and an excellent one. But it turns out that she can also do drama, and here she delivers an Emmy-worthy performance. Clearly the World War II era and the story of the Greatest Generation still has a hold on the American psyche, and this story captures that. It's about an American World War II widow named Caroline Thomas, whose veteran husband has been missing since 1943 and is presumed dead, yet she goes to the train station where she last saw him in hopes of welcoming him home. Her story catches the attention of a television docudrama network and they assign crack reporter Jennifer Love Hewitt to cover it. She initially dismisses the assignment, but quickly becomes attached to both the story and to Caroline and her family, especially her handsome grandson Lucas (Sean Faris). However, the story delivers some surprises. The ending, while perhaps far-fetched, is surprising and moving. There are a few unexpected twists to the story and a few which are no surprise at all. Yet even the obvious points don't matter. The entire cast delivers credible performances, but White truly commands the story. The moment when White's character finally tells her husband goodbye is an example of filmmaking at its best. This show is a credit to everyone involved.