I enjoy the more effervescent Hallmark romantic comedies the best and this is certainly one of those. The relationship and chemistry are explored well.
Merriman, who has been acting in sitcoms since he was 9 and just played a nasty but driven Dixie Walker in 42, is quite believable as the driven lawyer whose live threatens to be turned upside down and LC, well-known from Party of Five forward, uses her charm and overbite amazingly well in this one. In fact, this may be the most complete performance I've seen from her. The best friends are well-played and have good chemistry with the leads. And the big blonde "other woman" who you would expect to be an obnoxious object-of-scorn in most films is actually a well-written and clearly motivated adult who takes everything in stride intelligently. And the performance of the woman playing Cynthia is pitch perfect - so points to this departure from the norm. And, this movie avoids mean-spiritedness to such a degree that even LC's main detractor, Merriman's best friend, sees the light and apologizes to her. LC is amazing in this.
But, I must confess the real reason I am taking time to write this is the tour-de-force performance given by one of my personal all-time favorite former child stars, Patty McCormack as Rosemary, the all-wise secretary/matchmaker who never misses a chance to set right what she sees as wrong. Her performance is magnificent and sets the tome for the entire film. It is the meatiest role I've seen her get since her low-budget horror "Mommy" movies and she still has the same penetrating blue eyes she had as Rhoda Penmark and in the Explosive Generation and as Mrs. Roper (much too good for Geoffrey Tambor).
This was a great role for her and her spirit carries the movie. I wish Priscilla Barnes (from Three's Company and more) had more to do in this film as she's also been an under-utilized talent. Anyway, this is a most enjoyable way to spend an hour and a half.
