Really wanted to like 'A Valentine's Match' a lot more. The story is very familiar ground formula wise, but the premise sounded cute. Have also liked Bethany Joy Lenz and Luke Macfarlane in many other things, while finding the filmographies of both hit and miss both of them are very likeable actors that can never be accused of phoning in. Also have nothing against Hallmark, far from it, though they have always been wildly variable (especially their Christmas output).
'A Valentine's Match' did have some potential, but it never lives up to it. It lacks charm, is too overdone on the goofiness factor, it feels tired and it was very difficult to connect with the characters despite the efforts of the cast. Despite how all that sounds, 'A Valentine's Match' is not a complete dud and has its good things, but those good things are too far outweighed by the bad, and the worst of the bad things are very bad indeed. It is not one of the worst 2020 Hallmark films, but it only just about avoids being down there.
There are good things. The scenery is beautiful, almost always a given with Hallmark, and is nicely photographed. There are a few amusing and touching moments and glimpses of sweet chemistry.
Macfarlane is the best actor in the film, he is easy going and nicely subtle.
However, a lot is wrong. Lenz's character is agreed over the top annoying and she tries too hard to make her work, as a result the performance comes over as over-compensated and exaggerated (not like her at all). The rest of the cast also overact shamelessly and the supporting characters are caricatures with nothing whatsoever appealing about them, a notable example being the overdone manipulation. Macfarlane's character is the only character with any degree of likeability, but eventually he gets dull. He and Lenz have no chemistry together on the whole.
Furthermore, the script goes well overboard on the juvenile and exaggerated comedy, which is generally not all funny and feels forced. There is also too much of it and any charm and heart is generally lost. The story is very old-hat and has absolutely nothing new to it, also found it very bland and silly. The ending is too neat and leaves one exasperated. The direction is merely workmanlike if even that and there is nothing memorable or fitting about the music.
Overall, pretty mediocre. 4/10.
