Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, Valentine's Day is the cinematic equivalent of grocery store chocolate: it exists, people consume it, but nobody's claiming it's quality.

With a brutal 17% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 2.7/5 on Letterboxd, this isn't a hidden gem—it's a widely-acknowledged misfire. The movie throws every rom-com trope at the wall with an absurdly stacked cast (seriously, they got everyone), but quantity doesn't equal quality. The interweaving storylines mean you get no depth anywhere, just surface-level romantic clichés on repeat for over two hours.

For parents: if your teen is curious about relationship dynamics and you want something safe to watch together, this won't traumatize anyone. But it also won't enrich anyone. It's cotton candy cinema—sweet, forgettable, and kind of makes you feel gross after consuming it.

The 2010 vibe has not aged gracefully, and modern teens will likely find it more boring than romantic. There are so many better rom-coms out there (even from the same era) that actually have something to say. This one just says 'love is complicated' about 17 times and calls it a day.

Age Fit

Best for teens 15+ who are curious about romantic relationships and can handle infidelity/breakup themes. Honestly though, even interested teens might find this boring—the poor reviews aren't lying.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

62

Ensemble rom-com with generally positive relationship themes and messages about love, though some storylines involve cheating and breakups. Models some kindness and connection, but also includes relationship dysfunction. Tone is light and inoffensive, though occasionally saccharine. Common Sense Media rates it 15+, suggesting some mature relationship content.

Imaginative

28

Standard romantic comedy formula with interweaving storylines - a structure borrowed directly from Love Actually. No creative risks, no original insights into relationships. Purely formulaic execution with predictable plot beats. The ensemble cast concept is the only mildly interesting structural choice, but it's derivative. Zero invitation for creative thinking or exploration.

Safe

72

PG-13 territory with no graphic content, though some adult relationship situations (affairs, breakups, sexual references). Common Sense Media age 15 suggests some mature themes but nothing shocking. No violence, gore, or truly inappropriate content for teens. Some mild sexual innuendo and relationship drama, but largely tame for the genre.

Enriching

35

Minimal takeaways beyond surface-level 'love is complicated' messaging. The 17% Rotten Tomatoes critic score and 34 Metacritic reflect the shallow treatment of relationships. Multiple storylines mean no depth in any single narrative. Entertainment value is questionable given the poor critical reception and 47% audience score. Doesn't build empathy or insight in meaningful ways - just cycles through rom-com clichés.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Massive ensemble cast (Taylor Swift, Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway, etc.) playing out multiple interconnected love stories
Light, inoffensive viewing if you want pure romantic fluff without thinking too hard
Could spark conversations about different types of relationships and what makes them work (or not)
Safe for family viewing with teens—no graphic content, just relationship drama

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What to Watch For

Mature relationship themes including infidelity, breakups, and adult romantic situations—Common Sense Media suggests 15+
Critically savaged for good reason: thin characters, predictable plots, and zero depth across all storylines
125 minutes is way too long for this much fluff—may lose interest halfway through
2010 aesthetic and humor feels dated; modern teens may find it cringey rather than charming

Conversation Starters

"Which couple's story did you find most realistic? Which one was totally ridiculous?"
"Do you think Valentine's Day puts too much pressure on relationships? Why do people make such a big deal about it?"
"The movie shows cheating and breakups—what do you think makes a relationship actually work?"
"If you could rewrite one of these storylines, which would it be and how would you change it?"

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