Her Pen Pal

6.7/10 · 1,849 ratings20211h 26mWeirdness 3/10Bingo card

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The premise

Event planner Victoria can't wait to attend and plan her best friend's wedding in Paris. But when she finds out her ex is bringing a date, Victoria reconnects with her French childhood pen pal.

How unusual is it?

Mostly classic comfort-watch, give or take a second-chance romance.

Who’s in it

Behind the camera

Show

Wait, what?

The quirks and curveballs that make this one a little weirder than your average Hallmark. No spoilers, promise.

  • The protagonist's childhood pen pal happens to own a massive, perfectly maintained French chateau.
  • The 'Tour de France' is used as a pun for a romantic walking tour.
  • The protagonist is ordained and officiates her best friend's wedding on a whim when the pastor cancels.

Every trope, all in one place

Here’s everything this one has going on, from the setting to the way it wraps up. Tap any of the 29 to find more movies that do the same thing.

How it all plays out

Already seen it, or just can’t wait? Open this up for the whole story, ending included.

Full story (spoilers)
Victoria Lewis is a meticulous Los Angeles wedding planner who travels to Paris to serve as the maid of honor for her best friend Tracy. Upon arrival, she is blindsided by the news that her ex-boyfriend of twelve years, Cameron, is the best man and has brought a 'work wife' named Jen as his date. Feeling vulnerable, Victoria's friends encourage her to look up Jacques Artis, the Parisian pen pal she wrote to throughout high school but hasn't seen in thirteen years. After an awkward voicemail, Victoria accidentally runs into Jacques at a champagne tasting. Jacques, now a contractor who maintains his family's historic chateau, agrees to be Victoria's plus-one for the wedding festivities. Disaster strikes when the original wedding venue's ceiling collapses due to water damage. Victoria, realizing she has been planning a 'Victoria Lewis wedding' rather than one that fits the couple's simple tastes, works with Jacques to move the event to his family's chateau. As they spend time together on a 'Tour de France' of Parisian sights, Jacques reveals he is considering selling the chateau to a hotel group because he feels lonely and wants to travel. Meanwhile, Cameron confesses to Victoria that he still has feelings for her, causing tension. Jacques becomes insecure, believing he is merely a 'vacation romance' and a tool for Victoria to make Cameron jealous. Subplots involve the bride, Tracy, struggling with her signature indecision and 'cold feet,' and friends Nathalie and Seth navigating the anxieties of their first pregnancy. Victoria eventually realizes that her relationship with Cameron belonged to a version of herself she has outgrown. During the wedding ceremony, which Victoria officiates, she delivers a moving speech about love being an 'embracing' rather than a 'locking,' using Jacques' own words from his old letters. After the ceremony, Victoria and Jacques reconcile; Jacques decides not to sell the chateau but to turn it into an event space with Victoria as his unofficial partner. They acknowledge their mutual love, with Jacques explaining that the French phrase 'Tu me manques' means 'you are missing from me,' before they finally share a kiss.

Beat by beat

  1. Opening

    Victoria arrives in Paris for Tracy's wedding and discovers her ex-boyfriend Cameron has brought a date, Jen.

  2. Inciting Incident

    Victoria reconnects with her childhood pen pal, Jacques, who becomes her plus-one for the wedding week.

  3. Midpoint

    The original wedding venue is ruined by a ceiling collapse; Jacques offers his family's chateau as a replacement.

  4. Complication

    Cameron confesses he still has feelings for Victoria, causing Jacques to doubt the sincerity of Victoria's affection.

  5. Climax

    Victoria officiates the wedding and uses Jacques' old letters to define love, signaling her choice to move on from Cameron.

  6. Resolution

    Jacques decides to keep the chateau and turn it into an inn; he and Victoria commit to a long-distance 'wandering' relationship.

29 tropes in one movie

We counted 29 distinct Hallmark tropes packed into this one — a genuine greatest-hits reel.

How it stacks up

Where this one’s rating lands against every other rated Hallmark movie.

Rating 6.7 vs every rated Hallmark moviemedian 6.4This movie · 6.7567

Higher-rated than 74% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.

Where this one fits

The corners of the catalog Her Pen Pal belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.

Lines worth quoting

The lines that stuck with us — the ones you’ll be repeating after the credits roll.

  • “Paris is always a good idea.”
    — VictoriaQuoting Audrey Hepburn's 'Sabrina' to justify the destination wedding.
  • “Love is not a locking, but rather an embracing.”
    — VictoriaDuring the wedding ceremony, referencing Jacques' letters.
  • “Being a Parisian isn't about living in Paris, it's about coming alive in Paris.”
    — JacquesExplaining the city's magic to Victoria.

Meet the characters

Who’s who before you press play. Nothing here gives the ending away.

  • Victoria Lewis

    Lead

    Event Planner

    Detail-orientedRomanticIndependentFastidious
  • Jacques Artis

    Love interest

    Contractor

    Childhood pen pal and current love interest

    SpontaneousSentimentalHandyPhilosophical
  • Cameron

    Supporting

    Patent Lawyer

    Ex-boyfriend of 12 years

    Success-drivenPredictableRegretful
  • Tracy

    Supporting

    Bride

    Best friend

    IndecisiveLoyalAnxious

Questions people ask about Her Pen Pal

Where can I watch Her Pen Pal?

Her Pen Pal is available via fuboTV, Philo, and Hallmark+ Amazon Channel. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.

How long is Her Pen Pal?

Her Pen Pal runs about 1 hour and 26 minutes, and was released in 2021.

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