[Warning: General spoilers ahead.]
It’s always interesting when familiar actors are cast in something wholly opposite of their day jobs. Person of Interest‘s Amy Acker and Orphan Black‘s Dylan Bruce abandon their professional killer personas to headline Hallmark Channel’s newest film, A Novel Romance, a romantic comedy about keeping secrets, mistaken identity, and second chances.
Bruce plays Liam, a budding novelist who had blockbuster success with a first book written under a pseudonym. Retreating to the family homestead in Oregon (aka Vancouver if you’re eagle-eyed) to work on his next book ahead of the reveal of his identity, Liam sparks with Sophie (Acker), a book critic he meets on the flight out from New York. Intrigued enough, he tracks her down and asks her out. Still reeling from a breakup with a local celebrity, Sophie is nervous about her new suitor and enlists her friends to test whether he’s as much of a good guy as he seems. He doesn’t tell her about his true identity, so what starts out tentative as a sweet new relationship gets complicated very quickly.
It’s fun to see Acker and Bruce amp up the charm and play two genuinely kind, decent people. Charles S. Dutton also stars as on one of Sophie’s confidantes, a local restaurant owner who helps her see the big picture. Cedar Cove‘s Emily Tennant plays her co-worker, Tabitha. Look for Smallville‘s Camille Mitchell as Liam’s agent and longtime family friend, Jackie. The film is directed by Mark Griffiths, who’s directed a handful of films for the Hallmark networks, including one of my faves, Growing the Big One.
A Novel Romance premieres Saturday night at 9/8c. Here’s a sneak peek:
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