An accountant, who never quite grew out of his awkward teenage years, finds himself with a dating coach - she happens to be his high school crush as well. Thanks to his coach, he gets a pret... Read allAn accountant, who never quite grew out of his awkward teenage years, finds himself with a dating coach - she happens to be his high school crush as well. Thanks to his coach, he gets a pretty woman he has his sights on for some time, but realizes they are incompatible. Meanwhile... Read allAn accountant, who never quite grew out of his awkward teenage years, finds himself with a dating coach - she happens to be his high school crush as well. Thanks to his coach, he gets a pretty woman he has his sights on for some time, but realizes they are incompatible. Meanwhile, his dating lessons with his teenage crush reawaken old feelings. Not realizing the feeli... Read all
- Steve Russell
- (as Hurt Evans)
- (Self-School)
- (credit only)
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Featured reviews
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.
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.
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.
Did you know
- TriviaAlternate title: The Dating Coach
- ConnectionsReferenced in Chelsea Lately: Episode #6.106 (2012)
- SoundtracksSentimental Heartstrings
Written by Tony Babino and Mark Eisemann
Performed by Tony Babino (Tony B)
Courtesy of Robert Rosenblatt Associates
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- The Dating Coach
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- $4,000,000 (estimated)