The plot seemed a bit ridiculous at first but I just laughed it off and especially enjoyed the country music, dancing and cowboys. It was a little difficult to see Eric Johnson as someone other than Jack Hyde (Fifty Shades series) but I'm sure that's just because I haven't seen him in much else. I also really like Autumn Reeser, who always seems effortlessly charming and down-to-earth.
20 Reviews
Darling Valentine
TheLittleSongbird29 December 2022
The 2016 Countdown to Valentine's Day films were mostly quite good, and of a more consistent standard of most of the succeeding years' Countdown to Valentine's Day batches. With the only major misfire being 'Dater's Handbook', which for me was one of the worst Hallmark films from that year, and 'Appetite for Love' was slightly above mixed feelings. Also saw 'Valentine Ever After' for having seen Autumn Reeser and Damon Runyan in other things.
'Valentine Ever After' is mostly a winner. It isn't great and has its flaws, but it also has a lot of very good things and among the better 2016 Countdown to Valentine's Day films along with 'All Things Valentine' (though this has the more appealing, if admittedly more typical, premise. Much better than 'Dater's Handbook' at any rate. If asked whether 'Valentine Ever After' is recommended, the answer is yes. 2016 was a very uneven year for Hallmark, and luckily this is one of the hits.
It has its issues. The story is patchy, the predictability and silliness at times getting too much while the final act is contrived with a too neat ending.
Also found Runyan out of his depth here surprisingly, here he looks unusually stiff and has very little personality, coming over as dull and over serious.
Can't fault the rest of the rest, loved the perky charm and down to earth quality to Reeser's performance in a role that plays to her strengths very well while Eric Johnson excels against type. Don't usually associate him as a romantic lead, but he is very likeable and charming and has a sweet and natural chemistry with Reeser. Vanessa Matsui enjoys herself without overdoing it. The characters are engaging and easy to connect with, with the sole exception of Runyan's who is an over serious bore and unattentive.
Furthermore, it pleases visually. It is beautifully photographed and can't say anything bad about the scenery. The music at least fits and doesn't feel as overbearing, over constant or repetitive as some Hallmark scores can be. The script is the right amount of light hearted and heart-warming, with some non-mushy serious moments and genuinely funny ones as well. The banter is playful but not overwritten or hostile. The story is rarely dull and it has a warm heart and light hearted charm.
Overall, very pleasant and well done if not anything that blows the mind. 7/10.
'Valentine Ever After' is mostly a winner. It isn't great and has its flaws, but it also has a lot of very good things and among the better 2016 Countdown to Valentine's Day films along with 'All Things Valentine' (though this has the more appealing, if admittedly more typical, premise. Much better than 'Dater's Handbook' at any rate. If asked whether 'Valentine Ever After' is recommended, the answer is yes. 2016 was a very uneven year for Hallmark, and luckily this is one of the hits.
It has its issues. The story is patchy, the predictability and silliness at times getting too much while the final act is contrived with a too neat ending.
Also found Runyan out of his depth here surprisingly, here he looks unusually stiff and has very little personality, coming over as dull and over serious.
Can't fault the rest of the rest, loved the perky charm and down to earth quality to Reeser's performance in a role that plays to her strengths very well while Eric Johnson excels against type. Don't usually associate him as a romantic lead, but he is very likeable and charming and has a sweet and natural chemistry with Reeser. Vanessa Matsui enjoys herself without overdoing it. The characters are engaging and easy to connect with, with the sole exception of Runyan's who is an over serious bore and unattentive.
Furthermore, it pleases visually. It is beautifully photographed and can't say anything bad about the scenery. The music at least fits and doesn't feel as overbearing, over constant or repetitive as some Hallmark scores can be. The script is the right amount of light hearted and heart-warming, with some non-mushy serious moments and genuinely funny ones as well. The banter is playful but not overwritten or hostile. The story is rarely dull and it has a warm heart and light hearted charm.
Overall, very pleasant and well done if not anything that blows the mind. 7/10.
Could be better, some parts missing from plot
decemberangel128621 February 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I thought this was a good try for a Valentine's movie, but, there was a major piece missing from the plot, Julia, a girl from Chicago gets tired and needs a rest after getting proposed to by a multi- millionaire who seems too cocky and isn't even a well-rounded man. She asked her friend to go with her on a road trip and they end up in Emmettsville with car trouble, and along the way she met Ben, a rancher who has good intentions.
The problem I'm having with the movie is that Damon Runyan wasn't even supportive of Autumn Reeser wanting to go out and do things on her own.He showered her with gifts trying to buy her love, and you can tell they aren't suited for each other, he is too stiff, boring and has no sense of humor. He doesn't even try to help Autumn with the fund raiser and doesn't even try to even comfort Autumn when she was upset or even try to understand why saving the ranch was important. He was nothing but a jerk. Damon Runyan was too much of a pretty boy, and too much about the money, he didn't even know what love was.
Autumn finally realized that he wasn't the man for her, and he tried to stop her, and she admitted she heard what he told his friend. She finally listened to her conscious that was telling her it was time to move on. The plot could be executed better, but all in all, it was not bad.
The problem I'm having with the movie is that Damon Runyan wasn't even supportive of Autumn Reeser wanting to go out and do things on her own.He showered her with gifts trying to buy her love, and you can tell they aren't suited for each other, he is too stiff, boring and has no sense of humor. He doesn't even try to help Autumn with the fund raiser and doesn't even try to even comfort Autumn when she was upset or even try to understand why saving the ranch was important. He was nothing but a jerk. Damon Runyan was too much of a pretty boy, and too much about the money, he didn't even know what love was.
Autumn finally realized that he wasn't the man for her, and he tried to stop her, and she admitted she heard what he told his friend. She finally listened to her conscious that was telling her it was time to move on. The plot could be executed better, but all in all, it was not bad.
Such a sweet fairy tale of a movie!
jml198814 February 2020
This movie is every nature-loving girl's dream. The plot was well-written, down to her connecting with her mother's memories through the horses and nature. It was absolutely beautiful in every way, and Autumn Reeser is one of the best Hallmark actresses out there!
One of my most favorite Hallmark movies
mrocco-17 October 2017
If you don't like sappy clichéd romantic movies then don't' watch Hallmark movies. Serously. Don't watch and then post negative reviews about how sappy and clichéd the movie was. Hallmark is the place for those of us that want family friendly sappy romantic comedy/drama. In my hey day give me a vague plot with no actual ending and I was happy, if it came out of France I was in heaven. Now? Give me Hallmark. I have no idea what has happened to me lol. If you do like Hallmark movies in general, this is a really good one and in my top 10. I love the plot. I love the two main actors and the chemistry they showed in this movie. Big fan of Autumn Reeser. Wasn't familiar with the male lead but he was perfect as a cowboy of few words. I even loved the sidekicks such as the socialite friend who doesn't eat carbs...she just about stole every scene she was in. I just noticed that Dylan Neal was one of the writers. Great Job! Didn't know that when I first saw it (yes this is one I'll watch over and over), very impressed.
Delightfully Dumb
jamesflannery-8569824 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Gotta admit I like Autumn Reeser in anything but I got a chuckle out of her and Vanessa Matsui bumbling their way through this rom- com. Out of their element in Wyoming, these Chicago girls end up having to do community service for becoming mixed up in a bar fight. Ben is a rancher who puts them up at his place. They fail at several jobs before they finally get it right at a nursing home. The movie moves on quickly from there as the girls scheme up a fundraiser to save the ranch from foreclosure. In the meantime Julia rides a horse like she's been on one all her life but we'll ignore that. It's clear that sparks are flying between Ben and Julia and why not? So we're now approaching 1hr :30 mark and it's time for that plot twist that will ruin everything......at least until the 1hr;55 mark. Sydney, banished to Chicago to sell raffle tickets, video calls Julia with a favorable report. Dancing ensues at a cowboy bar when suddenly Julia's fiancee shows up. This guy is a conceited creep and their 3 year courtship is baffling but he's filthy rich which Ben isn't so will Julia choose Chicago over Wyoming? And will they save the ranch? Complicating things further is when fiancee Gavin mentions that he can help with the failing ranch financials which Julia hadn't even told him about.
So now even after Julia has resigned herself to returning to Chicago there's a Valentine's gala for the raffle fundraiser. Julia overhears Gavin talking to someone about his distaste for Julia's charity work. Julia has an epiphany and sends Gavin packing at the 1:53 mark. Ben has no idea what's happened which leads to some tense moments at the charity auction. Thanks to some help from her father and Ben's mom Julia wins a dance with Ben and gets to tell him the good news. Who doesn't love a happy ending?
I wish Sydney had been involved more but I'm sure we haven't seen the last of Vanessa Matsui. A solid 6!
So now even after Julia has resigned herself to returning to Chicago there's a Valentine's gala for the raffle fundraiser. Julia overhears Gavin talking to someone about his distaste for Julia's charity work. Julia has an epiphany and sends Gavin packing at the 1:53 mark. Ben has no idea what's happened which leads to some tense moments at the charity auction. Thanks to some help from her father and Ben's mom Julia wins a dance with Ben and gets to tell him the good news. Who doesn't love a happy ending?
I wish Sydney had been involved more but I'm sure we haven't seen the last of Vanessa Matsui. A solid 6!
Some unexpected comedy with good characters
catherinewaters-917382 August 2022
I had not read any info about this one when it came on so I was happily surprised by the detour the plot took. An unsure engagement leads 1 new fiancée' to escape with her silly best friend on an adventure. The two gal pals have fun banter and land themselves in silly situations. Certain "souvenir photos" made me laugh. They end up on a ranch and of course there is a Hallmark-esque fundraiser. This has more comedy than most and the two lead actresses are believable friends and funny together. Autumn Reeser is perfect in her role as is Vanessa Matsui. Autumn's character has her choice of two very different men and definitely makes the right decision, of course. I enjoyed watching their sweet romance develop and the beautiful scenery.
Valentine Ever After
studioAT9 February 2021
This is a film you have to have staying power for.
For the first 30 mins or so it does tend to try and coast off of Autumn Reeser's warm personality and easy comic timing, with the plot being a bit clunky under her boots.
It does grow into itself though, and proves ultimately to be good fun.
The male lead is earnest enough, but this is Reeser's show, and she carries things well.
All in all, it's proves to be good fun.
For the first 30 mins or so it does tend to try and coast off of Autumn Reeser's warm personality and easy comic timing, with the plot being a bit clunky under her boots.
It does grow into itself though, and proves ultimately to be good fun.
The male lead is earnest enough, but this is Reeser's show, and she carries things well.
All in all, it's proves to be good fun.
Valentine Ever After
Prismark104 December 2022
Julia (Autumn Reeser) finds herself suddenly getting engaged to her rich, self centred boyfriend Gavin (Damon Runyan.)
So she decides to get away to a small country resort with her friend, Sydney. Only both get involved in a bar brawl which is bad news for Julia. She plans to be a lawyer.
The judges gives her and Sydney community service. For both getting involved in community service opens their eyes.
They get involved in a charitable cause helping out others, they also meet real country men who are responsive to their needs.
When city boy Gavin turns up, Julia realises just how wrong he is for her.
Valentine Ever After is dismal even for the Hallmark formula. It was hard to concentrate on the movie as everything about it was so shallow. They could not even make Gavin remotely likeable so the audience could understand why Julia might had been attracted to him.
So she decides to get away to a small country resort with her friend, Sydney. Only both get involved in a bar brawl which is bad news for Julia. She plans to be a lawyer.
The judges gives her and Sydney community service. For both getting involved in community service opens their eyes.
They get involved in a charitable cause helping out others, they also meet real country men who are responsive to their needs.
When city boy Gavin turns up, Julia realises just how wrong he is for her.
Valentine Ever After is dismal even for the Hallmark formula. It was hard to concentrate on the movie as everything about it was so shallow. They could not even make Gavin remotely likeable so the audience could understand why Julia might had been attracted to him.
Funny Autumn
JayHysterio22 June 2020
I'm a big Autumn Reeser fan and this was a nice change of character. Usually she plays charming, lovestruck roles but this was a truly comedic role for the most part. Her facial expressions during the various snafus are funny without even speaking. That's good acting when you can express an emotion to the audience without words. I admit the plot is pretty contrived and when the movie moves from comedy to serious romance in the second half it kind of loses something. Her sidekick in crime is also appealing and has a flair for comedy too.
Reeser is the reason
MickyG33320 February 2023
7.3 stars.
Just about everywhere that Reeser treads, she leaves things better than before. Take "Valentine Ever After": a sour dude ranch owner living a very unhappy existence in the cold wilderness of Wyoming. Sprinkle a little Reeser into the atmosphere, the end product is a new man with a promising future of a proper love he never deserved. His character is as sullen as they come, reminding me of many a cowboy I've encountered. We tend to idealize cow folk, but there are two polar opposites found in this sub-culture of mountain and farm dwellers: ill-mannered curmudgeons, or salt-of-the earth charmers.
"Valentine Ever After" is not one of Hallmark's best, it's just a tad above average. There is a lack of good lighting, it was a bit slow, and the romance was unnaturally strained. If not for Reeser's presence, this film wouldn't crest a 7.0.
Just about everywhere that Reeser treads, she leaves things better than before. Take "Valentine Ever After": a sour dude ranch owner living a very unhappy existence in the cold wilderness of Wyoming. Sprinkle a little Reeser into the atmosphere, the end product is a new man with a promising future of a proper love he never deserved. His character is as sullen as they come, reminding me of many a cowboy I've encountered. We tend to idealize cow folk, but there are two polar opposites found in this sub-culture of mountain and farm dwellers: ill-mannered curmudgeons, or salt-of-the earth charmers.
"Valentine Ever After" is not one of Hallmark's best, it's just a tad above average. There is a lack of good lighting, it was a bit slow, and the romance was unnaturally strained. If not for Reeser's presence, this film wouldn't crest a 7.0.
Not Hallmark's best work
gordonb-5958717 April 2020
Generally we like Hallmark movies and I don't like be negative....but. Wouldn't you think someone on the production crew would tell Erik Johnson (Ben) to wear his hat right? Half the show, he was wearing it backwards!! Secondly, he could have used some riding lessons before playing a cowboy. The people that do the casting should cast actors as "cowboys" that can actually ride horses.
A Sweet Romantic Movie with Humor
wlhawk-9186015 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Could Contain Spoilers Ahead: What I found most endearing is the family and friends that support the male lead character (Ben Thomas). Of course the boyfriend back home is always 'over the top' in how different he is than the lead woman, but that's to be expected in these kind of movies. But it is sweet, none the less and has some subtle and sweet humor along the way.
My favorite Hallmark movie.
pebnj-6319122 November 2021
This is certainly my favorite Hallmark movie. All of the actors are good in this one, especially the leads. Eric Johnson is a hunky cowboy and Autumn Reeser plays a girl with a brain and a heart. The scenery is gorgeous and the love story is not contrived like many. One scene between Julia and her fiancé seems ad libbed and a little awkward, but that is a minor flaw. I have seen both of these actors in other movies, and liked their performances, but they are just plain excellent in these roles. When Ben rides up on his horse to greet the stranded girls, he is a cowboy.
I watch a lot of Hallmark movies, but I watch this one over and over.
I watch a lot of Hallmark movies, but I watch this one over and over.
Yuppie Girls in Brokeback Mountain country
bkoganbing2 August 2016
Valentine Ever After casts Autumn Reeser and Vanessa Matsui as a pair of Yuppie girls from Chicago who get stuck in the middle of some rugged Wyoming country out of gas. Fortunately one hunky cowboy played by Eric Johnson comes to their rescue and invites them to stay at his ranch. No fools they, Reeser and Matsui take that invitation up in a nano-second. Reeser even slightly forgets she's kind of engaged to Damon Runyan, same name as the famous writer who's top Chicago society.
If Hallmark Channel movies have one thing in common just about every one I can recall celebrates the values of small town America. Valentine Ever After is no exception. Johnson and his family want to convert a working ranch into a dude ranch, but they're having cash flow problems. The local hospital is having those as well. The girls are responsible for breaking a local statue of the town's founder in the local Mickey Gilley's. These small towns do have their traditions. They work out their punishment with community service to both and the community is of course well served.
I'm in agreement with the previous reviewer about Runyan's character. I can't imagine anyone falling for this guy, he's so self absorbed. He's a kinder, gentler version of Donald Trump. It's all about him.
Valentine Ever After is a good Hallmark Channel film from their world where only good people thrive in small town USA.
If Hallmark Channel movies have one thing in common just about every one I can recall celebrates the values of small town America. Valentine Ever After is no exception. Johnson and his family want to convert a working ranch into a dude ranch, but they're having cash flow problems. The local hospital is having those as well. The girls are responsible for breaking a local statue of the town's founder in the local Mickey Gilley's. These small towns do have their traditions. They work out their punishment with community service to both and the community is of course well served.
I'm in agreement with the previous reviewer about Runyan's character. I can't imagine anyone falling for this guy, he's so self absorbed. He's a kinder, gentler version of Donald Trump. It's all about him.
Valentine Ever After is a good Hallmark Channel film from their world where only good people thrive in small town USA.
Loved this movie
jewhitmer2527 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Autumn Reeser is always charming and cute, she totally had chemistry with Eric Johnson. I loved Autumn in " A Bramble House Christmas, add it to you must see list. This is the first movie I have seen with Eric Johnson he did an outstanding job.
Basic plot Julia's boyfriend, Gavin just proposed to her in front of friends and family in a crowded restaurant. Gavin's Mama immediately, as in right after he pops the question, begins planning a wedding with 200 guets and assumes that Julia will work with their family business. By the next day the guest list has grown to 400. Big announcement in the paper. Julia is feeling stressed and decides to go to Montana with her bestie Sydney, superbly played by Vanessa Matsui. So two big city girls in cowboy country, what could possibly go wrong? Well, you could go to check out the local nightlife and accidentally break the treasured statue of the town's founder. The Judge, did I mention the Judge is a descendant of the founder, sentences them to 30 days community service. Sydney, and Jullia try and fail at several different jobs before they land at the hospital, Julia, the more adept and adaptable of the duo takes the cleaning job and Vanessa is assigned to talking to a patient. Julia spies a poster about the hospital needing to raise money. Bright idea!!! Sydney's mama is fundraising dynamo. The Judge agrees that they can do a fundraiser for the as their community service. Syndey goes home to work from that end and Julis stays in Montana. Where she is very attracted to hunky, attractive Ben.. I wpon't spoil it for you, but you know she ends up with Ben.
All the predictable twists and turns that we all love.
My advice; watch the movie, you won't be sorry.
Basic plot Julia's boyfriend, Gavin just proposed to her in front of friends and family in a crowded restaurant. Gavin's Mama immediately, as in right after he pops the question, begins planning a wedding with 200 guets and assumes that Julia will work with their family business. By the next day the guest list has grown to 400. Big announcement in the paper. Julia is feeling stressed and decides to go to Montana with her bestie Sydney, superbly played by Vanessa Matsui. So two big city girls in cowboy country, what could possibly go wrong? Well, you could go to check out the local nightlife and accidentally break the treasured statue of the town's founder. The Judge, did I mention the Judge is a descendant of the founder, sentences them to 30 days community service. Sydney, and Jullia try and fail at several different jobs before they land at the hospital, Julia, the more adept and adaptable of the duo takes the cleaning job and Vanessa is assigned to talking to a patient. Julia spies a poster about the hospital needing to raise money. Bright idea!!! Sydney's mama is fundraising dynamo. The Judge agrees that they can do a fundraiser for the as their community service. Syndey goes home to work from that end and Julis stays in Montana. Where she is very attracted to hunky, attractive Ben.. I wpon't spoil it for you, but you know she ends up with Ben.
All the predictable twists and turns that we all love.
My advice; watch the movie, you won't be sorry.
One of my favorites
jenifa-1435426 September 2018
Sweet movie
dianamarinelli2 January 2021
A terrific movie!
hilife-122 March 2024
Excellent story line, great scenery and Autumn Reeser. What a great movie with Ms. Reeser giving one of her very best performances. The story is really much deeper than the typical Hallmark movie, telling the story of a woman getting into a relationship for the wrong reasons and then finding true love. The movie features many sub stories that prove to be quite interesting along with a really good supporting cast. While it was filmed in 2015, its production was excellent with great ranch and mountain scenes. Ms. Reeser has made many movies prior and after this one, but in my opinion, Valentine Ever After is at the top of the list.
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