'Very, Very Valentine' is the second 2018 Countdown to Valentine's Day film from Hallmark. The first being 'My Secret Valentine'. It stars two of Hallmark's most popular regular actors Danica McKellar and Cameron Mathison, Mathison is always worth watching even in the not so good films but McKellar can be a bit too more of the same in her typecast roles. Hallmark do vary when it comes to their Valentine's Day films, which is not a surprise as all their seasonal blocks are inconsistent.
Luckily, 'Very, Very Valentine' is a winner and as far as the Valentine's Day films from Hallmark go it compares favourably. Similarly it compares favourably when it comes to talking about Hallmark's 2018 films, without being among the very best. It is a good representation of both McKellar and Mathison and one of the films to see if usually McKellar's appeal is lost on you (have seen this quite a lot in reviews for some of her other films so that's why it's being mentioned).
By all means, 'Very, Very Valentine' isn't mind blowing. Story-wise, it is very formulaic, where most plot points are foreseeable well before they happen (due to Hallmark doing them a number of times before). And also on the lightweight side, meaning on the slightly thin side and also where it is all wonderfully pleasant and polite with lots of charm but also with not a lot of depth or goal.
Occasionally the dialogue is on the corny side and some of the editing is a little disorganised and in the wrong order like.
However, there is a lot to like about 'Very, Very Valentine'. McKellar is charming and perky in a role that may not be too much of a stretch for her but it's not dull or annoying. Mathison is every bit as appealing and always looks relaxed and positive in energy, as well as showing his usual subtle natural charisma. Their chemistry is warm and charming, and never feels forced. The supporting cast are good too, especially Damon Runyan as the sort of Hallmark cliche character that can be played too much of a jerk but here played in a way that refreshingly makes it easy to root for him.
Also thought that the scenery was beautiful to watch and that the photography complemented it nicely, never cheapening it. The music didn't come over as over-powering or used too much. The film is assuredly directed, while the script mostly flows well and has an appealing light-hearted-ness. The story is cute and heart-warming and even with the predictability being high there is also a cheerful energy that stops it from getting mundane and although prematurely telegraphed the ending is also surprisingly touching. Characters that didn't sound like that they would be appealing conceptually did turn out to be a lot more interesting and easier to get behind than expected.
In summary, not great but a very pleasant watch. 7/10.
Very, Very, Valentine
2018
Action / Romance
Very, Very, Valentine
2018
Action / Romance
Keywords: masquerade party
Plot summary
Helen Russell owns and operates her own floral shop in New York City. What she loves about her work is the love associated with many of her orders, especially now during the Valentine's season. She hopes one day to have that sort of magical love, what she envisioned was like that of her now deceased parents where they just knew they were meant for each other. She thinks she may have found that love when her best friend since college, Henry Hart, invites her to a masquerade ball being held at the botanical gardens where he works as the chief botanist. At the ball, she meets a masked man with who she connects in that emotional, romantic sense. The problem ends up being is that by the time they abruptly part company at the end of the night, neither knows anything about the other, including the other's name. The only clue that Helen has to follow is the boutonniere he was wearing and accidentally dropped when he rushed off, one that was ordered from her shop using what is arguably the best rose she's ever hybridized, one that she is only calling the mystery rose until she names it and that Henry has encouraged her to enter into a prestigious flower competition. Helen, Henry and the other shop staff - her maternal Aunt Carol, and a new employee named Beth - go on a quest to find Helen's mystery man to match the mystery rose. Through the process, Helen wants those magical signs to tell her that the risks she is taking will end up with this mystery man being her true love. What Helen may find is that the signs are a little more subtle and may point somewhere closer to home.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
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Chasing love
Predictably cheesy
Every part of this movie was as I expected it to be. That being said, it still had the feel-good charm that Hallmarkers are famous for. Worth the watch, I'd say.
Cute but stretching at parts
Danica McKellar and Cameron Mathison were great but two things annoyed me every time I saw them on screen. One. Danica's hair hanging in her face and Two. Cameron with a backpack traipsing in & out of scenes.
Cute. Chemistry. Just baffling story bits at times.
Watchable if you like the actors.