Watch Surprised by Love

Surprised by Love is a heartwarming romantic comedy directed by Robert Iscove, premiered on the Hallmark Channel in 2015. The movie stars Hilarie Burton as Josie Mayfield, a single career-oriented woman who returns to her childhood home for her parents' wedding anniversary. Paul Campbell plays the role of Cooper, Josie's high school sweetheart, who is now a successful and charming chef in the same town. Malcolm Stewart portrays the character of George, Josie's father, who is thrilled to have his entire family together for the milestone celebration.

As Josie arrives, she finds herself at a crossroads in her life, having recently ended a long-term engagement with her fiancé. She still feels lost and unsure about her future plans. However, she is looking forward to spending time with her family and old friends while avoiding her ex-fiancé, who happens to live in the same town. Upon her arrival, Josie is pleasantly surprised to see Cooper. Soon, he convinces her to partner with him in a culinary-themed project for the wedding anniversary. Josie reluctantly agrees, but as they work together to create a series of menus for the celebration, the two rekindle their old romance.

Throughout the preparations, Cooper reawakens Josie's passion for cooking, which she had put aside for her former fiancé's aspirations. With Cooper's help, Josie starts to discover herself again, and as they uncover old feelings for each other, they begin a sweet and tentative romance. However, Josie is unsure if she is ready to risk her heart again and become vulnerable to love. Eventually, she must confront her fears and make a choice between her old love with Cooper, her past life in her hometown, and her career ambitions.

One of the film's main themes is the importance of family, whether it is a bloodline or relationship that brings people together. The movie portrays a beautiful relationship between Josie and her father George, who had always wanted her to have a more fulfilling life. The audience gets to see the unconditional love between a father and daughter, and how it shapes Josie's outlook on life. Josie's father becomes the voice of reason and a guiding light in her time of confusion and uncertainty. The strained relationship between Josie and her mother also gets an opportunity to learn and grow, as the whole family comes together to celebrate the wedding anniversary.

The breathtaking scenery of the Pacific Northwest, the iconic landmarks, and stunning views also contribute to the movie's overall appeal. The movie's charm and romantic elements are further highlighted by the beautiful settings and the picturesque seaside town.

As a romantic-comedy film, Surprised by Love balances humor and emotion, delivering an enjoyable and heartwarming story about love and self-discovery. Hilarie Burton brings a fantastic performance as Josie, displaying the character's conflicting emotions and vulnerabilities with grace and authenticity. Paul Campbell is charming and charismatic as Cooper, providing a good balance of humor and romantic appeal. Their chemistry is undeniable, making for many swoon-worthy moments throughout the movie.

Overall, Surprised by Love is an entertaining romantic comedy that will appeal to audiences who love the classic love stories with relatable characters and beautiful scenes. The film teaches the audience about the importance of taking risks and following their dreams, no matter how challenging it may seem. The movie's sweet and sentimental ending adds to the romantic and uplifting tone, leaving the audience cheering for the characters and admiring the film's message.

Surprised by Love is a 2015 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 24 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7.