I love quirky shows. The Librarians. Eureka. Warehouse 13. They take the edge off in an increasingly edgy world, especially in 2020-21. This franchise is definitely quirky, although with this movie it starts out a little more on the normal side than what it is later.
The four principle actors are so good at their roles. If you've seen Eric Mabius in a Hallmark romance movie, you might not recognize him. Oliver is a man of rigid principle and faith. Shane is a woman with tenacity. She too has faith, she just doesn't know it yet. There is a definite future for these two because Mabius and Booth have great chemistry. So many people love Crystal Lowe and she deserves it. I said you wouldn't recognize Mabius in a "normal" movie. Double that for Lowe. Yet she is great in both kinds of roles. Rita is unique. And quirky. Geoff Gustafson has a difficult role because it's not quite clear who Norman Dorman is yet, and even all these years later his character is evolving.
As much as I loved the regular cast, Laci J Mailey and Benjamin Hollingsworth blew me away. Their chemistry was nitroglycerin. I'm really sorry Mailey hasn't been more prominent on Hallmark in recent years, beyond her role on Chesapeake Shores.
There's a mystery to be solved, and the as yet unnamed Postables are on the case. The viewer gets far more information than the Postables should have, but somehow they are more privy to it than should be given the size of the letter. Even the viewer can't quite see everything yet, but the outcomes are predictable. But even if predictable, the viewer can't wait to see it unfold.
There are plot holes galore. I let them pass over me, but I will mention a some. Charlie's lawyer acts like you have to prove innocence rather than establish doubt. Then things don't process through the criminal justice system nearly as fast as it did here. I'm pretty sure all postal employees have a union so Andrea's threats exceed her actual authority. And of course, every episode of SSD is followed with a disclaimer that the movies aren't consistent with USPS procedures. It would be easy to get hung up on these, but if you are willing to let them pass, there is a lot of fun to be had.