‘A Valentine’s Match’ is one Fun Match-Making Romance

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Bethany Joy Lenz headlines A Valentine’s Match, a romantic-comedy about a woman named Natalie Simmons (played by Lenz) who’s once successful TV career just resulted in being fired! Adrift and unsure what to do, she takes the words (that she’s no longer authentic) of her ex-boss, and the encouragement from her mother to return home.

Of course, while she’s back, the annual Valentine Day festival is about to take place, an event her mother conveniently needs help planning. What Natalie doesn’t know is her mother (Mary-Margaret Humes) is busy plotting behind her back.

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You see, Natalie’s ex, Zac Williams (Luke Macfarlane) is, unbeknownst to her, back home which may cause a few awkward run ins. What neither grown up child realizes is, along with Zac’s mother, Natalie’s mother has plans to reunite their children.

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Pretty sure it’s safe to say, this Hallmark original “feels” somehow different from its peers, but at the same time, is precisely the same. There’s an interesting dynamic between these reunited sweethearts that makes their banter fun, and not just in a cute way, but a laugh-out-loud funny kind of way. Their “meet cute” is awkward, appropriately so, but there’s understandably tension between their ensuing run-ins; all of which stems from some heartbreak.

There’s some fun montage and dialogue scenes, one of which is the pair of them hunting for treasures amidst a barn full of vintage finds. The script is good, and allows for a nice nostalgic moment between the almost-marrieds. Speaking of the characters, I’m glad to see Bethany Joy Lenz and Luke Macfarlane in this, both of whom are favorite actors of mine. Normally Lenz plays an instantly likable character, but here her Natalie is a little lost, and so the journey is more worthwhile. Macfarlane was last seen in Sense, Sensibility and Snowmen, and is again great.

Like any of their heart-infused romantic-comedies, A Valentine’s Match bursts with romance and joy. Plus, it’s made more fun by the match-making plot, and if nothing else, you’ll certainly enjoy some laughs, and the adorable ending that while trope-y, somehow feels fresh, and is certainly happy-end viewer approved

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Photos: Hallmark / Crown Media Press