An Unexpected Valentine

7.3 stars.

I would classify this as a laid-back romance that is unusual for Hallmark. I've seen Hallmark produce movies like this but not in many years. This is a tribute to some of the older stuff they did maybe back around 2005 through 2012 give or take. It doesn't fit into the usual formula, however, it still has the same feeling of all the usual movies they produce. They simply inserted a completely foreign storyline, utilizing the hallmark blueprint.

It's the story of a man who delivers things in his large SUV around NYC. He also transports people, somewhat like an Uber driver. The rest of the film is about an adventure between the man and the woman as they try to find the owner of a lost engagement ring. They drive around the city for several hours. They both have prior engagements that they need to attend so they are on a time crunch.

It's a very laid-back and feel good film. The romantic aspects didn't knock me off my feet, but it was original enough to entertain without the usual over used tropes.

The story is not important in this movie. The allure is in the time spent on screen between Lacey Chabert and Robert Buckley. The chemistry is great and the two of them are completely in sync. There are great lines. There are great moments. There is a little physical comedy, but not in a big way.

Mostly it is just two people who never met before on a quest in downtown New York City to find the owner of the engagement ring that was left behind in Finn's car. Along the way, they make a lot of stops. Some are in hopes of finding the owner. There are others involving deliveries. And a couple of rest stops.

If there were any of the usual check-off items for a rom/com, there were barely noticeable. Oh, there were the main character's close friends egging them on to pursue love, but I really didn't notice anything else cliche. Unless you count the inevitable.

Hallelujah, a Hallmark movie with a different storyline. Lacey is adorable as always but the story is so unique from the trite, just slightly different than the one before it, movies Hallmark has been making, and remaking again and again.

About the only thing you can predict in this movie is that the two main characters, Hannah and Finn will end up together. The adventure that the two embark on includes a lot of fun, unexpected, and yes, maybe not very realistic moments at times, but hey, what's wrong with a little fantasy? Especially around Valentine's Day. I think the script is well written and the stages and props are quality. I think the only downside is that when you look forward to a Lacey Chabert movie, one always expects enthusiastically I might add, multiple wardrobe changes. Somehow Hallmark managed a complete movie with only one dress lol. Good job Hallmark and the entire cast!

You know how formulate these things can be. A few minutes of heavily expositional dialogue where the characters say things to each other that they already know, strictly for the audience's benefit. A series of contrived events designed to illustrate the quirks of the leads and their apparent incompatibility. Gradual attraction. Then, at 9:35, one of them says something on a phone call that the other one overhears and misunderstands. Followed by reconciliation.

Not this one. This found a fresh path, with reasonable obstacles and a valid payoff. Very pleasant and unexpected. Still, I have one concern: Why did the radio DJ have to pull a 12-hour shift?

There was good chemistry between the leads, Lacey Chabert continues to be the queen of Hallmark movies. But all the driving around New York City, going very fast and always finding a way to pull over to a vacant curb doesn't seem realistic. And we have another Hallmark movie where someone takes a selfie with a camera that has a telephoto lens. That doesn't work. Hard to believe that they made all those stops driving around the city and still got to their events. Timeline does not seem right. That doesn't work either! But the chemistry was good, worth a watch. Supporting cast and scenery was also good.