I wish I had realized how emotional this movie was before I watched it! Very thought provoking.
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arbi_jayne28 February 2020
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odo543520 February 2019Wouldn't you want to know that she was properly looked after in the event of your demise?
Hallmark Channel has never been one for deep exploration of the real life issues affecting it's target audience, but this movie, at least, tries. Yes, the story only skirts around the edges of a difficult topic, but how would you approach the subject of your imminent death?
This film is not Arthur Miller or Tennessee Williams. but it's still worth the time it takes to view it if you want to approach a difficult subject without cutting your throat at the end. -
Most everyone has seen the clichéd versions of the dying loved one. It's been done so many times, that one has to wonder if there is any other creative way to do it. The writers of "Meet My Valentine" feel that they've come up with one. Unfortunately, it's a movie that barely delivers. While I applaud the writers for trying something new and different, they don't quite pull it off.
Tom Bishop is a married man who finds out that he's terminally ill. It's clear that he loves his wife, Val (Valentine) and daughter, Phoebe. However, instead of telling his wife about his illness, he conceals it from her. He doesn't want emotion, and it's obvious that he believes he's sparing his family the physical suffering he will endure. The writers don't realize, that had they stuck to this premise, the movie would have worked. Instead, they take it a step further.
With the realization that he's going to die in about a year's time, Tom decides that he needs to find a new husband/father for his family. This is where the movie spends too much time dealing with Tom screening potential men. It borders on the ludicrous, which is why it fails. And instead of feeling sympathy toward Tom, we actually find ourselves amazed at his cowardice and selfishness. While Tom believes he's doing it for his family, the truth is, he's only doing it for himself. He hasn't the emotional maturity to actually talk to his wife and daughter about what he's going through. Again, had the writers focused on this, the movie would have worked.
The climax of the film comes much too late (at about an hour and fifteen minutes), and the conclusion much too quick, contrived, and easy to be believed.
I really wanted this movie to be more than it was. It had so much potential, especially with stellar performances by the cast. But ultimately, the movie just doesn't work very well. At this point, I'd much rather watch a clichéd movie on this subject. Or better yet, give me a "Highway to Heaven" episode instead. Michael Landon was a master with stories like these. -
TxMike15 February 2015My wife and I caught this movie on Network TV last night, on Valentine's day. The novelty is the main character's wife is Valentine.
Tom and Val seem to have a nice marriage, with a young daughter, but there doesn't seem to be much passion left. While that is pretty common among couple who have been married 20+ years, it is not common among young couples.
He is an artist, who seems "stuck", and she is a chef with a catering business, but she probably could do more. Like have her own restaurant.
One day Tom gets a severe head pain and when he goes to a doctor finds it is a brain tumor, and for purposes of this story's focus, inoperable. He can get chemo, but probably has no more than 9 months or so to live. So he does what anyone else would do, he sets about finding a suitable replacement, to make sure his wife and daughter stay happy and safe. It is a very unusual approach!
We enjoyed the movie as light entertainment, and all the actors are attractive. We asked each other what we would do in a similar circumstance, and neither of us would do what Tom did. But then our lives are not good TV movie stories either. LOL ... -
I don't understand , how some people like this movie. It is not even romantic or funny, its just annoying. The lead character is so controlling. Love without freedom is not love at all. Controlling and deciding all the other's lives and call it "caring". Nice excuse, isn't it? Bit shocked to see many people liking it and writing a good review. I don't know, how would anyone like a dying partner, who tries to choose who should be with his wife, when he dies. New level of being controlling. I think the people who liked it would be happy, if he had found a future husband for his daughter, before dying. and I don't know what is romantic in the movie.Just a dying man with sick ideas.
only plus is good looking cast. -
heavenlysonshine15 February 2016To be completely honest, when I scrolled past this move on Netflix, I thought it would be some cheaply made, easy movie that someone could make a lame excuse to watch on Valentines Day. To be frank: I was dead wrong. Tom is a middle aged artist with a fading marriage and a life sentence of 9 months to a year. Val,his wife, is a chef with her own blossoming career ahead of her. With their marriage placed on the back burner, Tom and Val are falling out of like and their lives are leading on without much of a fight. When Tom gets the news that he has a brain tumor, he decides on his own to find his replacement via Singles.net with the help of his goofy (friend?/brother?) Mac. When the box labeled "Interests" are left open for Tom to fill, he sets out to find out more about his wife and in the process of this, falls in love again. I really enjoyed just watching the relationship kind of "re-bud" after a clearly long dry period. The actors and actresses were engaging to watch and the movie in and of itself did grow. Audiences were not stuck watching someone continually mourn the sickness. I was genuinely impressed and authentically surprised. The movie had it's moments, yet in the long run it was really quite good.
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johnnyhaik30 November 2016I don't know how this was made into a movie or how anyone even watched it. I'd rather sit through Batman Vs Superman again and not watch another minute of this movie.
Like what makes you think your wife would want to get with another guy right away when you die? and is she not capable of picking a man by herself? I'm glad that he loves her so much that he can't trust her to live her own life, and therefore to treat her as an object.
My dog can come up with better ideas for a movie than this. He can actually write a better script too.
I've never written a review before or rated a movie online, but I just wish if I've never came across it and that I can get back the time I've wasted on it. You can watch at your own risk. -
Yes this was tear jerker, but was also poignant and realistic. I didn't totally agree when he didn't tell his wife, so that it was more of a shock when he did get towards the end. But I can understand his thing, he wanted to make sure she and daughter would be taken care of. and he got to spend quality time with his daughter and wife. Though script was well written and acted. Sad but worth the watch. Yes I recommend it. James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 2/15/2021
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sleeper542 September 2023A mind-boggling spin on the old 'partner/lover' dying of cancer. This time, the dying partner hatches a plan to find a suitable husband and father for his surviving family.
Who would do this..?!? Not a caring, equal partner husband. Not a disease-addled brain cancer patient. No one would do this. It is crazy.
The whole film is like a bad tour guide in a city you know well. You hope you might learn something new, but every word they utter makes no sense.
Instead of spending quality time withe his wife and child he wastes his remaining days doing trial 'dates' with potential future men.
Just silly. The characters are engaging but the are locked in a silly plot with a silly ending. -
larkdeb13 July 2018It is hard to comment about this movie without giving away the plot, but this was an incredibly moving story. Scott Wolf's and Courtney Ford's performances were beautiful, raw, and real. Jay Black, as Tom's best friend, pulled off the very difficult role of a comedian within a tragic plot with amazing skill and sensitivity. His character could easily have been portrayed as a two-dimensional buffoon, and spoiled the movie for me. But, he managed to make me laugh and believe his awkward way of showing affection for his buddy and for the girl he liked. The family and friends around the two main characters maintained just the right balance of seriousness and humor to keep the weighty subject matter from getting schmaltzy. The director, Brian Herzlinger, struck just the right tone, and brought out the best in his cast. The only fault I can find in the whole thing is the main character's course of action introduced toward the beginning. Once I hesitantly agreed to suspend my disbelief and go along with it, however, I was richly rewarded with what I think will remain one of my favorite Hallmark movies, ever.
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shelbyking-5349224 April 2022My late husband died from brain cancer, we have an only daughter and my current husband's name is Michael. Hits so close to home. Those that were complaining about him trying to find her husband, remember it's just a movie, and to those of us that have gone through this know that when somebody has brain cancer they're not in their right mind. It was the caring part of him that was thinking of his wife and daughter any other thought of him being controlling, you really should rewatch this movie. Cried through most of it. Great movie.
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goofyone77715 February 2015Thank you so much for making this movie! It really showed how someone with a terminal illness can be concerned about the loved ones in their life. Dealing with a terminal illness is hard; but not accepting loved one's love and concern while you are going through it is NOT good for the patient and/or the loved ones. My husband has NOT reached out to his loved ones but it was GREAT to see how it could have been.
I REALLY would like to purchase this movie if/when it comes out on DVD. I do HOPE it will come out on DVD SOON. Many others can be blessed by this movie!
Please put this movie out soon. -
Kirpianuscus28 May 2017except, maybe, the relation between Tom Bishop and his wife. who seems be ...strange for a young couple. the care for the partner after your death is not new idea in cinematography but it needs a subtle, delicate manner to show it. in this case, the problem is the not credible way to present this noble feeling. Courtney Ford gives a so cold character than the temptation of the scriptwriter seems be to transform her in a statue. Scott Wolf did a decent job, but his character is real uncomfortable because nothing seems credible. something essential missing in this film. sure, no surprise , but the premises are too good for a solution who seems be an improvisation result.for a touching story, without many explanations and for the fans of sentimentalș dramas in sauce of lovely end, it is a good choice.