Hallmark Review: 'Love, Classified'

Synopsis:

Emilia Bloom (Melora Hardin) is a successful romance novelist returning to her hometown of Pennfield, as the local bookshop is the last stop on her book tour. But what Emilia is most looking forward to is reconnecting with her children, artist Zach (Max Lloyd-Jones) and plant shop owner Taylor (Katherine McNamara). But the visit proves to be more challenging than she expected. Emilia's relationship with her children--especially Taylor--has been estranged ever since she left town after their father's passing. As Emilia works to make amends, she and her kids end up finding love in unexpected ways. What will this troubled family learn about themselves as they open their hearts to forgiveness, change, and romance?

Story:

While the inclusion of a same-sex couple was what got Love, Classified all of its hype, it's far from the only gem to be found in this film's script. The multiple storylines are handled masterfully, with each arc getting a fair chance to shine and little connections tying all the characters together in a natural way. While romance is in the air in Pennfield, that's not the only thing on the movie's mind. We also follow the troubled Blooms as they grapple with career anxieties, insecurities, health problems, and old grievances. The dialogue, emotions, and character interactions feel incredibly real and the story comes to an authentic tearjerker of a climax. With its hard-hitting plot that doesn't clash with the film's overall uplifting atmosphere, Love, Classified is the perfect movie for those who aren't fans of Hallmark. If you're one of those people, this film might just make a Hallmarkie out of you.

Characters:

Logic implies that an excellently written story should yield excellently written characters. That's certainly the case for Love, Classified. It's fitting that Emilia talks about how characters in romance stories don't need to be flawless because Taylor Bloom might be the most (intentionally) flawed Hallmark character I've come across in a while. While she has a right to be angry at her mother for abandoning her in her time of need, we see it's escalated to a point where she starts taking it out on others. She lashes out at Zach for wanting to give their mother a chance to make things right and she even allows her resentment to taint her romantic relationship. Wisely, the script keeps Taylor's rougher qualities from overwhelming her good ones. As such, you won't lose sympathy for her and will instead root for Taylor to let go of the past before it derails her future.

The writers do the same thing for Taylor's similarly imperfect mother Emilia. Between her grief and her insecurity about suddenly becoming a single parent, you can understand why Emilia allowed her grief to blind her from what Zach and Taylor needed from her. As she awkwardly goes about trying to make up for what she did, you feel the validity of her remorse and want to see her succeed in rebuilding that bridge. Zach may not be as resentful as Taylor, but he still makes it clear he was hurt by Emilia's abandonment and doesn't give her a free pass for her self-centered behaviors. In short, every member of the Bloom family has some issues to work through, and thanks to the strong writing, you'll care for all three of them (faults and all) and want to see them bring their broken family back together. SPOILER ALERT (kind of) The only issue I could find is that Taylor never gives Franki an onscreen apology for needlessly lashing out at her. Their arc together still comes to a beautiful conclusion, but it would've been nice to see Taylor own up to her hostility. Spoilers Over

The Blooms' love interests and other associates don't have nearly as much angst, but they're still interesting characters. Bookstore manager Margot is an adorkable ball of energy. Emilia's old friend Brian is instantly charming. Taylor's unlikely companion turned girlfriend Franki is thoroughly compassionate and empathetic. Her relationship with Taylor also opens the door for a few conversations about sexuality and how it isn't always as cut-and-dry as "just knowing" where you land on the spectrum. Franki and Taylor each have a quirky best friend, with Franki's openly gay friend Max and Taylor's employee Hannah each providing a shoulder of support to their respective friend whenever they need one.

Acting:

The performances are all on point. Each actor takes their character's personality, troubles, and motivations and brings them to life. Melora Hardin does this with every facet of Emilia Bloom: her confidence as a famous author, her pridefulness that caused her to become so estranged from her children, and the genuine maternal love that fuels her mission of redeeming herself to her son and daughter. Max Lloyd-Jones and Katherine McNamara easily keep up with Hardin. The latter brings a palpable fervor to Taylor's long-held indignation against her mother and the emotional issues that stem from it. The former makes Zach a kind-hearted man who, at the same time, won't back down when unduly mistreated. We see that whenever he chews out Emilia for her selfishness or chides Taylor for her unhealthy bitterness.

Louriza Tronco blends well with Lloyd-Jones as high-strung manager Margot, whom she plays with all the necessary awkward lovability. The same can be said for Arienne Mandi and Steve Bacic as Franki and Brian. Of the three romances, Franki and Taylor's gets the most exposure, so it's a good thing Mandi and McNamara click as well together as their co-stars do with their respective onscreen partners. Jamall Johnson and Baraka Rahmani bring equal parts humor and heart as Max and Hannah while Matthew Kevin Anderson and Paul Campbell make funny cameos as Emilia's late-arriving editor Graham and a snarky bartender she meets when she first arrives in Pennfield.

Overall:

While it's attracted the usual amount of bigoted hate, Love, Classified is a top-notch Hallmark romance that delivers in all areas. The story is moving in its accurate depiction of family dysfunction and internal conflicts. The actors pour their hearts and souls into their realistically flawed characters. The plot delves into some heavy topics while still maintaining the heartwarming mood one expects from a Hallmark movie. Love, Classified earns my glowing recommendation, so if you're up for an emotionally rich Hallmark feature and aren't one of the homophobic nitwits who condemned the film as soon as it started getting advertised, check it out as soon as you can.

Score: 10 out of 10 healing amethyst crystals.