My Secret Valentine

Lacey keeps claiming her title, every year, as the "Queen" of Hallmark. And Andrew W. Walker is definitely one of the favorites (mine included) so I'm really glad they finally got to co-star in this one together.

I went into this movie withouth knowing much: Chloe comes back home after her father asked her to because he has some news about the winery that has been in the family for decades. Seth has one purpose: to buy this winery for the huge company he works for. So, they start spending time together as Seth starts enjoying the country life... and they even interact more than they actually think.

The board in the cabin was such a nice and original feature, and I really enjoyed it. The story was good, but very few Hallmark actors would have made it as special as these two made it. The chemistry was a plasant one to watch. (Seriously, does he have chemistry with all his co-stars?)

No exes involved, extra points for that. I even laughed out loud more than once thanks to Lacey and specially thanks to Andrew. The character's (and Andrew's) sense of humor was a very satisfaying part of the movie. Probably my favorite part.

I have very few problems with it: 1° the ending could have been way much better than that. . 2° I don't get why she kept blaming Seth when it wasn't his fault at all? 3° They never run into each other at the cabin (i'm gonna let this go) 4° The last sentence was too corny even for me.

But other than those, which you are in your right to disagree with, it was pretty good.

Great valentine's movie. The ending was expected but fitting. Lacey Chabert is perfect in everything she does!

Chloe Grange (Lacey Chabert) manages an upscale Portland restaurant. She comes home to Oregon wine country for a visit during Valentine's Day Wine Festival. Her father announces his retirement and plans to sell to a box wine company. Company representative Seth Anderson (Andrew Walker) knows nothing about high end wines. The family cabin has been rented out and unbeknownst to either side, Seth is the renter.

It's Hallmark, Valentine, and wine. They seem to be connected somehow. It's fine. Chabert and Walker are Hallmark veterans at this point. They can do this in their sleep. This is safely in the standardized TV romance mold.

Really enjoyed the chemistry between the lead characters. One criticism, though. Rosé is not a white wine.

If you're paying attention, it won't take you very long to spot that this movie is a TV remake of Shop Around The Corner by way of You've Got Mail. What they've essentially done is taken the story beats of the earlier versions of the story and inserted them into their boilerplate Hallmark template. In fact, you might wonder if the "big city outsider sets out to close smaller business but instead finds love" formula, used by do many Hallmark movies, was itself lifted from You've Got Mail.

Still, I enjoyed it. Lacey Chabert is as squeakily adorable as ever. Worth a watch.