Love at First Glance

5.9/10 · 2,142 ratings20171h 22mValentine's DayWeirdness 4/10Bingo card

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The premise

After being dumped by her boyfriend Carl for being unadventurous, Mary (Amy Smart) sets out to prove him wrong by tracking down the handsome stranger (Adrian Grenier), whose cellphone she found on the subway.

How unusual is it?

Middle of the road, with a twist — amnesia keeps it from being totally by-the-book.

Who’s in it

Behind the camera

Show

Directed by

Written by

Wait, what?

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

  • Investigative reporting on depressed squirrels and chipmunk biological imbalances
  • A breakup triggered specifically by the monotony of cheese ravioli
  • The protagonist essentially stalks a man's entire social circle via his lost phone contacts to write a 'living obit'
  • A character named 'China Howe' who runs a dog rescue

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 28 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)
Mary Landers is a reporter for The Bugle who is tired of writing about trivial matters like depressed squirrels and chipmunk incursions. Her life is further upended when her boyfriend of five years, Carl, breaks up with her over a plate of cheese ravioli, claiming he needs more excitement and that she is too predictable. While commuting, Mary finds a lost smartphone belonging to James Fielding. Seeing photos of James's adventurous life—skydiving, traveling, and running with the bulls—she decides to return the phone but also use his contacts to write a 'living obituary' profile for Jack Kramer at the prestigious Gazette, hoping to land a better job. Mary begins a journey of self-discovery by meeting people from James's life. She meets Cesar, a tango instructor who teaches her to embrace passion; China, a dog rescue owner who helps Mary overcome her fear of animals; and Matthew, a nurse who reveals James's heartbreaking past with a woman named Carey who lost her memory in an accident. As Mary communicates with James via text while he is in Paris, she begins to adopt his adventurous spirit, eventually going skydiving and dumping Carl for good when he tries to reconcile. Her editor, Wally, tasks her with writing about the 'true meaning of love' for the Valentine's Day issue. Mary realizes that James's life was defined by acts of kindness and courage, which inspires her to write a deeply personal piece. On Valentine's Day, Mary's article is a success, earning her a job offer at The Gazette. She goes to meet James at a bar called Kimi's to return his phone. After a brief moment of thinking she missed him, they finally meet face-to-face, realizing they have fallen in love through the journey of the lost phone.

Beat by beat

  1. Opening

    Mary is introduced as a frustrated reporter writing about squirrel depression before being dumped by Carl for being 'predictable' during a cheese ravioli dinner.

  2. Inciting Incident

    Mary finds a lost smartphone on a train belonging to James Fielding and decides to profile him to advance her career.

  3. Midpoint

    Mary interviews James's friends and family, leading her to try new things like tango dancing and skydiving, effectively changing her personality.

  4. Climax

    Mary rejects Carl's attempt to get back together, realizes she loves the version of herself she found through James, and publishes her 'Meaning of Love' article.

  5. Resolution

    Mary meets James at Kimi's on Valentine's Day, returns his phone, and they begin a romantic relationship.

28 tropes in one movie

We counted 28 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 5.9 vs every rated Hallmark moviemedian 6.4This movie · 5.9567

Among the lower-rated Hallmark movies — the median is 6.4.

Where this one fits

The corners of the catalog Love at First Glance 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.

  • “There has to be more to life than cheese ravioli.”
    — CarlCarl breaking up with Mary because their life is too repetitive.
  • “To find real love, Mary, you have to love yourself first.”
    — Mary's MomGiving Mary advice after her breakup.
  • “I will always love you forever and ever.”
    — Carey (quoting James's valentine)Explaining the only memory she has left of James.

Meet the characters

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

  • Mary Landers

    Lead

    Reporter

    DeterminedInitially cautiousAdventurousEmpathetic
  • James Fielding

    Love interest

    Photojournalist

    Owner of the lost phone

    AdventurousKindGenerousFearless
  • Carl

    Supporting

    Car Salesman

    Ex-boyfriend

    BoringFicklePredictable
  • Wally

    Supporting

    Editor of The Bugle

    Boss

    WiseEncouragingOld-fashioned

Questions people ask about Love at First Glance

Where can I watch Love at First Glance?

Love at First Glance is available via fuboTV, Philo, and Hallmark+ Amazon Channel. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.

How long is Love at First Glance?

Love at First Glance runs about 1 hour and 22 minutes, and was released in 2017.

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