How to Fall in Love

Why is the teenage dork always named "Harold" (who grows up to be an accountant)? Talk about Hollywood stereotypes!

"Ugly Betty's" Eric Mabius, playing a grown-up Harold White, finds that Annie Hayes, his homecoming dance date when they were freshmen in high school, has returned to town, and is unable to find employment in her chosen profession as party planner. Annie is played by Brooke D'Orsay, of "Royal Pains" and "Drop Dead Diva" fame.

At the prodding of a buddy, Harold tries to hire a dating coach, but it doesn't work out. Instead, he hires Annie to become his coach (it helps to supplement her waitress income), and she does such a good job that at one point, the student winds up teaching the teacher.

The ending of this movie is preordained from the outset, but it gives the viewer a nice ride along the way. It also works as a decent how-to dating guide for nerds everywhere.

A slimmed-down Kathy Najimy plays Brooke's co-worker; and prospective first date, Gina Holden, never looked better.

I absolutely loved this movie! Eric and Brooke were wonderful in this tale of a shy, dorky guy who hires a popular girl he went to high school with to help him improve his image. However, instead of "McDreamy" AKA Patrick Dempsey hiring his pretty high school neighbor to pretend to be his girl friend so the kids in school will think he's somebody, it's 20 years later, and Eric Mabius is hiring Brooke D'Orsay, the prettiest girl from high school, to be his dating coach. Along the way they both learn things about themselves, each other, and how much they have in common. This movie must have been preparation for the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series as Eric Mabius certainly delivered the same quiet gentlemanly charm we have grown to love about his Oliver O'Toole character. If any Postables fans haven't seen this movie, yet, it's a Must-See!

Brooke is beautiful as always. (I don't know why some reviewers say she's not as pretty as other Hallmark actresses, I think she's gorgeous! When she smiles you can't but smile with her.) Her portrayal of Annie, an out of work, undiscovered, party planner who goes to Harold (Eric) for a job as his dating coach is very believable. When she apologizes to Harold for hurting him when they were in high school you feel like it's genuine.

Kathy Najimy's supporting role as a waitress who works with Annie is a bonus. She's delightfully weird, as always, especially when she helps Harold practice conversation for his date and tells him about things she likes to do in her spare time. (Don't judge her!)

Yes, it's totally predictable, like all the Hallmark movies, but such a wonderfully romantic tale that makes you laugh, cry, and smile.

Okay so this is by no means a blockbuster romantic film such as Titanic but what it does do is keep a viewers interest with the introvert and quirky amateur photographer Harold White (Eric Mobius) who had his teenage heart broken by the love of his life Annie Hayes (Brooke D'Orsay) at their high school prom dance more than a decade ago. Harold White finds Annie Hayes working in a coffee shop and enlists her help in getting over his shyness with women so that he can eventually woo a woman and confidently engage her with conversation without losing his voice or thought pattern.

Instead what the adult student Harold White realizes is that he is not quite over the heartbreak he felt more than a dozen years earlier as he continues to receive courtship lessons from his teenage love Annie Hayes. Annie on the other hand also starts having deep feelings for Harold and tries hard to get him over with his relationship ineptness by giving him a series of lessons in love and dating.

This is definitely a Hallmark made for TV film, so don't expect too much other than a little bit of comfort food which is what Mrs. Shullivan and I enjoyed and needed during the Corona Virus 19 pandemic lockdown. It is warm, loving, and with a happy ending for Harold and Annie.

I give it a 7 out of 10 rating on the Hallmark made for TV scale.

Just watched this at least second time today. I liked it even better this time.

The premise isn't overused. The story doesn't have much in the way of surprises, but that's OK. And yes, it is sappy, but that's why I liked it.

Brooke D'Orsay and Eric Mabius have great chemistry. There is a slight disconnect when Annie is trying to self-justify their high school history. I didn't get why she was so insistent where she kept saying things went well when she didn't remember. I think once would have been enough. Still, they were great together. You could almost see the magnetic lines pulling them together.

D'Orsay does a good job with the dichotomy of being so confident about some things like dating yet falling short of success in life. At times she even looks a little unkempt especially in the beginning.

Mabius makes a nice transition from reclusive dork to a man of confidence. The writers gave Harold a nice touch having him be such a romantic despite his lack of confidence to start.

My wife and I both loved this movie. It was humorous and at the same time inciteful. The characters were realistic as was the plot. This is not one of those sophomoric rom/coms, but an intelligent romance movie that even though we all know how it will end up, it was great to watch it develop and play out. Highly recommend.