Signed, Sealed, Delivered: From the Heart

Is the movie referring to New Salem in Pike County, IL population 136, and 75 miles west of Lincoln New Salem in Menard County, IL where Abe Lincoln lived for 6 years, and existed for 12 years before being abandoned & left for pasture? Tourists drive to New Salem to see where Abe lived only to find out there is an old New Salem and a new New Salem. And how/why did Oliver become so stuffy and boring? Was he abused as a child? Did his mother or father force him to be so freaking proper? It's hard to believe he has not changed from first movie to current movie. I imagine this has been addressed but I missed it.

Eric Mabius (Oliver O'Toole), Kristin Booth (Shane Mcinerney), Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe (Rita Haywith), and Geoff Gustafson (Norman Dorman) are back in one of the more endearing entries in the Signed, Sealed and Delivered series. This film has not one but four love stories to follow, starting with a historical one possibly involving Lincoln and his first love who passed away before the two could be together. It demonstrates an early American homemade valentine and she got the idea because it was all the rage in Europe. The second story involves a post office box that blew up 15 years prior...and a confession of murder. Then it's on to our two postable couples, Oliver makes a homemade valentine invitation for Shane, but unfortunately she doesn't get it in time which leads to confusion as Oliver thinks she is pretending she didn't get it in order to avoid conflict. Then there is Norman and Rita who are both excited to spend their first Valentine's Day together...until unforeseen events catapult Rita into traveling for Miss Special Delivery and when interviewed for a national broadcast she claims to be single...which just breaks Norman's heart.

The show runner's of this series have an amazing way of putting you through all of the emotion in the best way possible. I thought I was going to make it through the entire film without crying...and then they got me, I was crying by the end. I like the use of soft jazz and cinematography to let the story breathe.

I am a big postables fan. I love the history and the little lessons on etiquette and the United States post office. It is a beautiful reminiscence of a time gone by. I like that Oliver wears nice suits that make him look distinguished. Shane has her own professional style that has me eyeing sheath dresses again! And that brings me to Rita, who with her Vintage inspired wardrobe is a girl after my own heart! Kudos to the set design and costume design teams!

More quirkiness and sweetness along with continuing puppy love.

There are perhaps four stories going on which are stretched out as they are woven together. One is a historical story speculating on what might have been for Abraham Lincoln. Another is the usual dead letter story which in this case is 15 years old. The last two are the developing affairs of our two Postables couples.,

I think that these Postables stories are best enjoyed by the faithful fans. Others may not take to this blend of romance and nerdy humor.

The acting in this particular episode is a little more conventional than in some episodes.

The lovely 17th century Scottish folk tune "O Waly, Waly" plays extensively through the movie and creates a sweet backdrop to four somewhat plaintive stories.

Love this series - Signed, Sealed, Delivered - from Halmark. They have all been really good, and "From the Heart" is one of the best. The four story lines are interesting, emotionally engaging, currently relevant, and totally different! The character interactions are so good and the quirky personalities are spot on. Kudos to the writers, actors and staff.