A Valentine's Date

Laura (Elisa Donovan) left her husband Dylan (Brad Rowe) in Texas over four years ago. She took their young daughter to New York, where she got a great job in the banking business. In addition, she has slowly climbed the corporate ladder. As she explains, Laura was hoping her husband would follow HER, as a support for her dreams, but he loves it at his ranch in Texas. Over time, mother and daughter have made various visits to the Lone Star State. But, now, Dylan says enough! He wants shared custody of their daughter and a divorce. Summoned to court, Laura must face Dylan and get the issue settled. Unfortunately, the judge (Catherine Hicks) postpones the hearing until certain conditions are met. Thus, Laura has to bunk with her father (Tom Skerrit) and try to appease her boss on the phone for a week or so. Naturally, Laura and Dylan meet several times and its a reality that the attraction between them remains strong. Will this visit to the south wreak havoc on Laura's plans? This film is a nice romance but it has some major problems with credulity. Its very hard to believe that a husband, deprived of his wife and daughter, would wait four years to settle the matter. But, whatever. The cast is quite nice, with Donovan and Rowe shining as the stars and Hicks, Skerrit, Hicks, Tracey Gold, and John Schneider giving great support. Moreover, the scenery in Texas is lovely. Although it won't rank as a "must see" flick, romance fans who long for new material will find it acceptably entertaining.

I wish that I could find out where I can get the songs in this movie. The music is truly amazing! I love country music especially like in this movie. This is one amazing country movie and it's for all ages. I rate this 9 out 10, because it's just plain amazing. If you want to teach children about importance of love and marriage show them this movie, it got amazing lessons. It is Christian movie but doesn't push Christian values too much. And girls who loves horses, will love this movie. I would've chosen a different actor for Darren, maybe even a country singer like Garth Brooks. I am in hope that maybe there is a soundtrack or at least someone can tell me what are the songs. =D

Decent storyline. I'm a fan of Elisa Donovan, beautiful horses, country music, the Christian song "Your Love Never Fails"... (and the pig was cute). But for the love of all that is Texas, don't show aerial footage of downtown Austin and then try to pass off what's obviously SoCal as Texas Hill country! And the characters' horribly fake Texan accents! Super distracting from what could have been a more enjoyable movie. As a Texas transplant living in California, I'm guessing Santa Monica mountains, Santa Clarita, maybe Ventura county locations were used for this film? Texas doesn't have mountains like these in the movie. It would have been better to set the story anywhere else than insult Texans with this hogwash.

Thoroughly enjoyed the movie. I realize that most of Hallmark movies are predictable and soft but I think that is what I enjoy about them. The plot is a gentle play on a theme that we have seen over and over with other films but believable. Maybe the acting is a little more gentle than real life but many of us do not need gritty to get full enjoyment out of the film. The single only criticism I have is that although the move is set in Texas, you are bout 1800 miles west of Texas, in California. The temps and the dirt and dust are similar, the music is actually very good and fits with my native state but guys we do not have countryside the same as depicted. Keep making em and I will keep enjoying em.

The Elisa Donovan character tells the husband whom she refuses to divorce, he needs to grow up; yet she harbors a petty high school jealousy for the girl who beat her out of h.s. Drama role and talks down to the diner owner (also a h.s. Friend). She is so self-absorbed, she hasn't been home in 6 years, she throws childish fits in front of the judge who is deciding the custody of the couple's 9 or 10-year-old daughter & even tries to compromise the judge on the street (can you say stalking). And, oh yes, misses important business deadlines and teleconferences she has sworn up and down she would meet when she knows she up for an EVP position at her bank. I definitely want this broad on my team. Not. He certainly shares responsibility for not traveling to NY to visit, but when it comes to maturity - he's got her beat.

Elisa is a single mother who chose to leave her unsupportive husband many years ago to take on a career in the city, and just became too busy to get around to filing for that little thing called a divorce. When the husband files for joint custody of their daughter, Elisa must take time off from work (something she rarely does) to move back to her little country town while she takes care of this mess. But as she starts spending more time with her daughter, and less time at work, she starts to realize what's really important. She also begins to see her husband in a brand new light, and realizes he's not the same man he use to be, because he also knows what's important in life, and isn't afraid to fight for it. And what he's fighting for is to get his wife and daughter back. This was a lovely, clean movie with a lot of heart and funny moments. James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 1/31/2021

Although I have learned to enjoy hallmark movies to escape everyday bad news and conflict, this one really annoys me. Female lead is wayyy too made up! Distracting. And she is too clueless! Hard to like her.