How to Fall in Love (2012 TV Movie) User Reviews

Gooey Plot Redeemed by Cast and Crew

[boblipton · 6/10 · 22 July 2012]

When a sensitive but nerdish accountant hires the girl who broke his heart in high school as a dating coach, you know exactly how this movie is going to turn out. When each segment is given a neat chapter head offering the Lesson in What Women Want for a Good Relationship and Men Should Want Them Too, you just know that some women are going to force their boyfriends to watch this with them, punctuating the instruction with "Why don't you ever do that?" Later, when those boyfriends leave for other women, they will be extremely confused.

Despite my distaste for the narrative stupidity of this movie, I enjoyed it. Mostly I attribute it to some excellent performances by the leads -- Eric Mabius really seems to know how to act for the camera -- and a wonderfully silly small turn by Kathy Najimy. There is also some beautiful photography, particularly a marshland sequence near the end.

I think you'll enjoy this one, but please, ladies, if you force your boyfriends to watch this and insist on asking him why he doesn't do these things, don't poke him in the ribs to emphasize your point.

Very good

[jewelch · 7/10 · 27 January 2021]

This was a interesting movie to say the least but yes I really enjoyed it. Yes I recommend it. James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 1/25/2021

Comfort food for any romantic

[Ed-Shullivan · 7/10 · 7 April 2020]

Okay so this is by no means a blockbuster romantic film such as Titanic but what it does do is keep a viewers interest with the introvert and quirky amateur photographer Harold White (Eric Mobius) who had his teenage heart broken by the love of his life Annie Hayes (Brooke D'Orsay) at their high school prom dance more than a decade ago. Harold White finds Annie Hayes working in a coffee shop and enlists her help in getting over his shyness with women so that he can eventually woo a woman and confidently engage her with conversation without losing his voice or thought pattern.

Instead what the adult student Harold White realizes is that he is not quite over the heartbreak he felt more than a dozen years earlier as he continues to receive courtship lessons from his teenage love Annie Hayes. Annie on the other hand also starts having deep feelings for Harold and tries hard to get him over with his relationship ineptness by giving him a series of lessons in love and dating.

This is definitely a Hallmark made for TV film, so don't expect too much other than a little bit of comfort food which is what Mrs. Shullivan and I enjoyed and needed during the Corona Virus 19 pandemic lockdown. It is warm, loving, and with a happy ending for Harold and Annie.

I give it a 7 out of 10 rating on the Hallmark made for TV scale.

Rated +1 for the instruction manual

[HallmarkMovieBuff · 2 September 2012]

Why is the teenage dork always named "Harold" (who grows up to be an accountant)? Talk about Hollywood stereotypes!

"Ugly Betty's" Eric Mabius, playing a grown-up Harold White, finds that Annie Hayes, his homecoming dance date when they were freshmen in high school, has returned to town, and is unable to find employment in her chosen profession as party planner. Annie is played by Brooke D'Orsay, of "Royal Pains" and "Drop Dead Diva" fame.

At the prodding of a buddy, Harold tries to hire a dating coach, but it doesn't work out. Instead, he hires Annie to become his coach (it helps to supplement her waitress income), and she does such a good job that at one point, the student winds up teaching the teacher.

The ending of this movie is preordained from the outset, but it gives the viewer a nice ride along the way. It also works as a decent how-to dating guide for nerds everywhere.

A slimmed-down Kathy Najimy plays Brooke's co-worker; and prospective first date, Gina Holden, never looked better.

Good movie for hopeless romantics

[Sergiodave · 7/10 · 26 February 2021]

A small budget movie about a shy accountant who gets taught about dating. Thought the acting, especially from the the leads was very good and more importantly believable and the plot, whilst not original, was charming. It ticked the right boxes for me.

Specs appeal

[SunnyDaise · 6/10 · 11 March 2021]

The main character should have kept his glasses on because without them, he just looks like Eric Mabius' other Hallmark characters, and so is less convincing at being a non-dater. I couldn't make it thru the movie in one go - much prefer Eric's multi-faceted Signed, Sealed, Delivered.

Haven't I seen this film before under a different title

[lisafordeay · 5/10 · 19 July 2018]

How To Fall In Love is a TV romantic comedy about a nerdy man named Harold (Eric Mabius)who as a teen was rejected by a girl who he invite to go to the prom with. Fast forward a few years later and his now a grown up man who has no girlfriend and hasn't met the girl who he had a crush on since then. He works as an Accountant and is very shy. But when he meets the girl that he invited to the prom when he was a teenager she decides to help him out by becoming his dating coach and giving him a makeover where his transformed from nerdy to handsome. Will Harold get the girl in the end and ooze with confidence?

Overall as I said in the title of this review I could have sworn I seen this before somewhere. I think it was Geek Charming where a nerdy guy has to film a popular girl and the popular girl gives the nerdy guy a makeover and falls in love with him. Here (spoiler alert) same thing only its adults not teenagers.

Keep an eye out for an unrecognizable Kathy Najamy from The Wedding Planner and Rat Race as a waitress who works for Annie(Brooke D'Orsay's character who rejected the guy she helps out as a dating coach for Harold) Verdict: Predicatable

It's the "Can't Buy Me Love" movie for grown ups!

[sonicgeekette · 10/10 · 6 June 2020]

I absolutely loved this movie! Eric and Brooke were wonderful in this tale of a shy, dorky guy who hires a popular girl he went to high school with to help him improve his image. However, instead of "McDreamy" AKA Patrick Dempsey hiring his pretty high school neighbor to pretend to be his girl friend so the kids in school will think he's somebody, it's 20 years later, and Eric Mabius is hiring Brooke D'Orsay, the prettiest girl from high school, to be his dating coach. Along the way they both learn things about themselves, each other, and how much they have in common. This movie must have been preparation for the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series as Eric Mabius certainly delivered the same quiet gentlemanly charm we have grown to love about his Oliver O'Toole character. If any Postables fans haven't seen this movie, yet, it's a Must-See!

Brooke is beautiful as always. (I don't know why some reviewers say she's not as pretty as other Hallmark actresses, I think she's gorgeous! When she smiles you can't but smile with her.) Her portrayal of Annie, an out of work, undiscovered, party planner who goes to Harold (Eric) for a job as his dating coach is very believable. When she apologizes to Harold for hurting him when they were in high school you feel like it's genuine.

Kathy Najimy's supporting role as a waitress who works with Annie is a bonus. She's delightfully weird, as always, especially when she helps Harold practice conversation for his date and tells him about things she likes to do in her spare time. (Don't judge her!)

Yes, it's totally predictable, like all the Hallmark movies, but such a wonderfully romantic tale that makes you laugh, cry, and smile.

If only every problem was so easy to fix.

[cgvsluis · 3/10 · 15 September 2021]

Annie, the female lead in this romance, while beautiful and engaging is a hot mess and I have zero sympathy for her at the beginning of this film. She is an adult who has not grown up and seems blissful unaware of the real world and other people. I don't think she is a bad person...just a little self-involved.

Eric Mabius plays a wonderful but awkward romantic lead, who needs a dating coach.

Annie desperate for money, volunteers to be his coach.

Of course it is just the ugly duckling in reverse...under the glasses not only is Harold handsome and successful but he is truly a nice guy who appreciates others and is kind to them. Oh yeah and has great taste in music and takes amazing photos as a hobby. He is many girls' dream.

All the coach does is get him to do self affirmations, wear some better clothes and loose the glasses.

The stars are attractive and you can see the story's ending from the very beginning...if they weren't so attractive and didn't do such a good job of acting, I would say this was a complete pass...but the two make a convincing couple which keeps it on the list to watch.

Good movie, good actors, many good things in script.

[conleytgwinn · 8/10 · 26 April 2013]

An enthusiastic 8! I AM that nerd, and I recognized each step of my own growth in the lessons of Brooke for Eric. When I finally met my eventual wife, the script covers why and how we fell in love. No lessons though on the four kids, the 45 years, and other significances that follow. Perhaps Hallmark has more to teach me?

Brooke is not as beautiful as many Hallmark female leads, and the nerdish character of Eric is initially off-putting, so I dialed back my expectations after meeting the leads. However, the script drew me back as I saw my own awakening replayed and the growth of the characters to parallel my own self-awareness.

I recommend this movie,and guys - even if no one elbows your ribs, you could do worse than to pay attention. Do not just tell everyone what you learned - SHOW them!

I wanted to like it more but the poor me nerd thing is not it

[darkmomo-81831 · 5/10 · 28 July 2023]

Sorry, but it's just something that icks tf outta me! "Oh I was a nerd. I didn't have the confidence to talk to you so I just watched and now I'm a grown man and still can't get it together and dwell in the past!"

We get it, come onnnn. It's probably one of my biggest pet peeves. He was also a little TOO perfect. "Classic romantic." Like come on it was all so cliche. I wanted a nerd who was a nerd and I would have loved that. But getting rid of his glasses was my first ick and then it just continued lol.

Look, I love an awkward character! I think nerdy, dorky men are the HOTTEST thing in creation. I would have loved to see him fall in love with an equally dorky girl who appeared cool on the surface.

But the whole crying over his HS life was so stupid. Honestly, grow up dude. Get therapy. -_- You're too old for that especially when she was super nice in HS and you never spoke up. No one's a mind reader.

Didn't love the sister angle too. The older sister was a complete jerk. It seemed like the MC did a lot of apologizing for crap she didn't need to apologize for. And it comes up multiple times. He didn't talk to her after the dance. Um hello TALK TO SOMEONE!

To be clear he is not perfect. The fact that the girl he was seeing never really got to do what she wanted to do says a lot. If you're selfish yeah no one's going to want to date you.

Also still reeling over a highschool rival for someone's attention at that big age is insane. Like it really is lmfao.

Anyway all in all while this movie had seriously sweet moments and Kathy Najimy stole the show, it lacked a LOT in the end. So meh. I wish it had been a lot better, but it was still a cute movie in some aspects.

Life, Love and Substance

[hbsteph-50138 · 4/10 · 1 January 2023]

This was an interesting movie...nothing cutesy about the film. The awkwardness of the main character was real and painful. Annie, his "dating coach" was a real balance in helping Harold overcome his "15-year old ugly duckling" view of himself. I had a friend who could so relate to this film. I also really liked the chemistry between the two lead characters. That chemistry didn't feel forced or faked. Also, the side story between Annie and her older sister was credible and helped to keep my interest in their not-so-smooth relationship. All in all, the script was realistic, and, again, not fake or forced. I enjoyed the whole film.

How to Fall in Love and With this Film ***1/2

[edwagreen · 9/10 · 21 August 2012]

He was a social retardant from his high school years. 20 years later, he's an accountant and photographer, but his social life is still going nowhere. Why? The guy lacks confidence.

He meets a girl he went out with in his freshman high school year and she takes on the task of teaching him how to be himself. Of course, the plot itself is how these two people come to fall in love.

Kathy Najimy is given little to do here as a waitress working in the same restaurant as our heroine.

This is another Hallmark story of people finding out about themselves. It is basically a story of confidence and asserting oneself, handled very well.

The elements of romance.

[pauldib-338-120671 · 10/10 · 16 October 2019]

A beautiful and feel good movie that rises to a level beyond the typical formula.

A lesson plan for love. This movie should be a part of a universal 'pre cana' for every couple who are in, or want to be in, a serious relationship.

As to the movie, there is chemistry between the couple and a steady building toward a true romance and, one has to believe, a lifelong bonding of souls.

One of the best Hallmark movies

[kmc498 · 10/10 · 19 July 2020]

Chemistry between Annie and Harold is excellent. Writing is actually very good and not too cheesy. Even the supporting characters add good value (sometimes they don't really have meaning in these types of movies), like Kathy Najimy's character. The scenes between Annie and her sister are also relatable. Acting is very good, especially by Brooke D'Orsay. Wish she would do more Hallmark movies. Just a really sweet movie all around. My favorite Hallmark movie.

Loved this movie!

[lydiajp · 8/10 · 27 June 2019]

I thought both actors did a great job. They also had great chemistry. The male lead role did a great job maintaining the same character even with his new taught confidence and skills, he was very believable and very likable. The storyline has deep real life issues more than just a guy with low self-esteem. The lead female has lessons to learn as well. I enjoyed the sisters realizations. This movie was very well written and kept my interest and focus from beginning to end. Loved it!

A Sweet Movie

[athompsonblue · 8/10 · 11 January 2021]

It's a nice, enjoyable story of a man learning to come out of his shell, a woman learning to see more depth in him, and the simple, gentle romance they share together.

Eric Likes Brooke!

[JLRMovieReviews · 9/10 · 10 January 2017]

Eric Mabius liked Brooke D'Orsay in high school but she never knew how much. Present day: He has no girl and no style. Feeling insecure, he's now shy and has nobody to love. A friend of his tells him about a dating coach, but that experience was terrible. He meets Brooke, when she's waitressing, but who's really an event planner and without a job currently. Long story short, you know what happens. She helps him with his approach to women and insecurity, all the while she's.... This may be predictable fluff, but it's so sweet, special, and real, that it spoke to me and I really, really enjoyed it. Katky Najimy gives great support as another waitress and friend to Brooke. And, the rivalries and feelings between Brooke and sister were handled very well. This is the kind of film you watch sick in bed, a feelgood movie for all romantics, or just anyone who likes sweet films.

A great romance movie! Loved it!

[jml1988 · 8/10 · 22 November 2019]

While you know from the very beginning how this will end, it was great to watch it play out! The cast was so talented and acted so well. It had tons of funny moments as well as all the sweet ones.

A Great Romantic Movie to Snuggle up to

[docm-32304 · 8/10 · 26 January 2021]

My wife and I both loved this movie. It was humorous and at the same time inciteful. The characters were realistic as was the plot. This is not one of those sophomoric rom/coms, but an intelligent romance movie that even though we all know how it will end up, it was great to watch it develop and play out. Highly recommend.

The Best!

[canzida · 10/10 · 21 August 2021]

Loved this movie. Shows love is not dead but romantic. The songs were awesome. Thank goodness for no sex or nudity. A true human warmth story. MORE PLEASE.

Rewatchable

[Jackbv123 · 9/10 · 24 September 2021]

Just watched this at least second time today. I liked it even better this time.

The premise isn't overused. The story doesn't have much in the way of surprises, but that's OK. And yes, it is sappy, but that's why I liked it.

Brooke D'Orsay and Eric Mabius have great chemistry. There is a slight disconnect when Annie is trying to self-justify their high school history. I didn't get why she was so insistent where she kept saying things went well when she didn't remember. I think once would have been enough. Still, they were great together. You could almost see the magnetic lines pulling them together.

D'Orsay does a good job with the dichotomy of being so confident about some things like dating yet falling short of success in life. At times she even looks a little unkempt especially in the beginning.

Mabius makes a nice transition from reclusive dork to a man of confidence. The writers gave Harold a nice touch having him be such a romantic despite his lack of confidence to start.

A sweet romance movie for truly mature adults

[mchristi-156-169140 · 9/10 · 24 June 2021]

It's nice to see a movie about real, mature adults and how they act decently and honestly with each other.

Sweet

[warrinerg · 10/10 · 29 January 2021]

Great movie that was clean and sweet. Harold has a lot of issues with self condolence because of a bad experience with a girl in school. The same girl later on becomes his coach to help him in the dating department.

Classic Hallmark, but better!

[jaimedannie · 10/10 · 22 June 2021]

This story is so fun, acting is great! Eric Mabius is a classic actor with charm and he is funny.