her pen pal movie review

'Her Pen Pal' Review: Hallmark romance is a predictable but delightful watch

Spoilers ahead It’s hard to stop smiling while watching ‘Her Pen Pal’. Hallmark’s latest romance outing is a blend of cheesy, funny and adorable all rolled into one and topped generously with one ingredient — love. Mallory Hansen’s Victoria’s love story forms the central theme of this love story. The 90-minute drama, despite being predictable, is a relatable affair. Victoria is an elite wedding planner and is eager to be the maid of honor at her best friend Tracy’s (Jane Wisener) wedding in Paris.

'Her Pen Pal' is a part of Hallmark's summer titles which include ' To Catch a Spy ', ' The Baker's Son' , ' You Had Me At Aloha ', and ' Sand Dollar Cove '. 

‘Playing Cupid’: Release date, plot, cast, trailer and all you need to know about Hallmark’s romance movie starring Nicholas Gonzalez

'Right In Front Of Me': Air time, how to live stream, cast and all you need to know about Hallmark's spring romance Her happiness takes a nosedive when she realizes that her ex, Cameron (Lachlan Nieboer), is part of the wedding as the best man and has also brought his date, Jan with him. His ‘Work Wife’ as his new love, just infuriates and upsets Victoria. Somewhere along, good news comes in the form of Jacques (Joshua Sasse), Victoria’s old pen pal who she eventually moved on from. This may have given her a new plus-one for the wedding, but clearly, cupid’s work and some chemistry bring them closer. 

The first 30 minutes sets context about Victoria’s life. What makes ‘Her Pen Pal’ a worthwhile watch is the utter relatability of it all. How often do people get a second chance as far as love goes? Again, this may be a load of cheese, but it’s just what the ‘Summer Night Series’ has as part of its slate, and ‘Her Pen Pal’ is a crisp and light-hearted watch. Hansen’s Victoria does a great job as the in-love-but-can’t-hide-it lead, while Jacques is flirty, charming and intense at the same time. The supporting cast does their bit and pops in and out of the frame often, but never stealing the spotlight from Hansen and Sasse.

The Paris setting just adds to the depth of the movie. A rekindled love story in one of the most romantic places in the world just provides another reason to watch the film. Coming back to the story. Tracy’s indecisive nature comes to the fore when news of their venue being unavailable makes her question if she was better off without one. The movie fleshes out the supporting cast and gives them enough to make sure they’re more than just mise-en-scene. The flick quickly moves into love-triangle territory when Cameron realizes he still has feelings for Victoria. Surprise! Jan realizes the evident love felt, and after a heart-to-heart with Victoria agrees that no matter what, they remain friends.

‘Her Pen Pal’ slips from pleasant to complicated just once and that serves as the lump in the throat moment. And up until the last 10 minutes, the plot keeps you guessing whether Victoria will choose Cameron or Jacques. In the end, this was perhaps a love story that was always meant to work out the best for Victoria.  ‘Her Pen Pal’ premieres on June 19, Saturday, on Hallmark at 9/8c. 

• Cast & crew

User reviews

Her Pen Pal

This hallmark film was a delightful and unexpected surprise.

• Aug 31, 2021

Wander through Paris

• hallmarkmov
• Jun 21, 2021

Pretty good

• Jul 5, 2021
• taylornan0909
• Jun 20, 2021

Paris when it sizzles

• TheLittleSongbird
• Feb 2, 2022

Love this film with former Galavant stars

• Jun 22, 2021

One of Hallmark's better efforts . . .

• Jul 3, 2021

Oh to be in Paris.

• Jun 19, 2021

An enjoyable romp around Paris

• teepack-75312

Love Mallory Jansen but not the plot of this movie

• Jun 25, 2021

Enjoyable Hallmark Movie

• rhonnie-43139
• Aug 7, 2021

What is the last song played in this moving

• annettedassing

Hallmark in Paris

• SnoopyStyle
• Oct 15, 2021

Fantastique Movie

Mallory jansen makes this movie work.

• mfreburg-946-137541
• Apr 3, 2024

The song at the end

• Jan 17, 2022
• Jul 1, 2021

The Beauty and the Simp

• TheCheeseMistress
• donnadumas-31672

Decent, but awful costuming

• jenrn-09722

Fake French Accent

• Jun 24, 2021
• May 2, 2022

Unrealistic but funny fairytale cinema

• mikkoalakulju
• Feb 10, 2023

More from this title

More to explore, recently viewed.

Letterboxd — Your life in film

Forgotten username or password ?

• Start a new list…
• Add all films to a list…
• Add all films to watchlist

Add to your films…

Press Tab to complete, Enter to create

A moderator has locked this field.

Add to lists

Where to watch

Her pen pal.

Directed by Clare Niederpruem

Say "oui" to love.

Event planner Victoria can’t wait to attend –- and plan –- her best friend’s wedding in Paris. But when she finds out her ex is bringing a date, Victoria reconnects with her French childhood pen pal.

Mallory Jansen Joshua Sasse Lachlan Nieboer John Macdonald Amanda Blake Jayne Wisener Gregory Haney Amy Pemberton Frédéric Gorny Manal El-Feitury Vlado Mihailov Euan Macnaughton Janis Ahern Gergana Todorova Bogdana Kotareva Kalina Stancheva

Director Director

Clare Niederpruem

Producers Producers

Phillip J. Roth Jeffery Beach

Writer Writer

Joie Botkin

Story Story

Kim Askew Amy Helmes

Casting Casting

Penny Perry Rob Kelly

Editor Editor

Cinematography cinematography.

Kris Carrillo

Assistant Directors Asst. Directors

Desislava Apostolova Natasha Roth

Executive Producer Exec. Producer

Nancy Bennett

Production Design Production Design

Alexei Karagyaur

Composer Composer

Anne Kathrin Dern

UFO International Productions Shopgirl Productions

Releases by Date

19 jun 2021, 02 mar 2022, 26 jan 2023, releases by country.

• TV G Hallmark Channel

84 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Rachel Wagner

Her Pen Pal- honestly I think this was just about perfect for a Hallmark movie. It was super swoonworthy and the whole idea of a Parisian pen pal from your past is romantic. I also loved the supporting couples. It was great! #HerPenPal

Review by Michelle MichelleBookAddict ★★★★

Took me a moment to recognize Joshua Sasse from Galavant (along with a few other cast members thus making this a sweet reunion). He’s a British actor and his accent is pretty good in this movie as the pen pal from France. The story is sweet and I absolutely loved the way they would mention Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina. Now it has me in the mood to rewatching that.

Review by GrandOldBastard ★★★½

This woman is so insanely beautiful, I could barely focus on the movie.

Review by Melissa ★★★½ 5

This one is good. A woman is in Paris with a hot French guy (who is actually British in real life). I don't have much to complain about at all. There's some good talk about food, some nice scenery, and even the fashion is good. And it's romantic!

If you like these kind of movies, I think you will enjoy this. It's like the innocent, Hallmark version of "Emily in Paris".

I wish they didn't choose this for the title. It's too generic. Something like "Parisian Pen Pal" would be more memorable.

The main character is pretty neurotic and everyone in this movie seems to have some slight mental disorder, but I say that with love. We all have them.

It tickled me how they made every couple interracial but the main one. That doesn't make up for Hallmark's racism, sorry.

2021 Ranked Favourite Hallmark Movies Paris Scenery Weddings

Review by Clara ★★★

I watched this entirely for the Galavant reunion and I regret nothing.

Review by Emmett Foss ★★

My dude has powdered sugar all over his shirt

Review by shaima2 ★

A little escape from real life to the ridiculously perfect parallel universe of hallmark !

Review by RobinGale ★★★

Very sweet Romance in France…. and I’m a rhyming poet.🤗 First time seeing Australian actress Mallory Jansen and she is absolutely gorgeous. She plays a wedding planner for a destination wedding for her best friend and surprisingly reunites with her handsome French pen pal from when she was a teen. Oui Oui Monsieur! Pretty enjoyable fare.

*Watched free on Prime

Review by Abby ★★

if my middle school french textbook was adapted into a hallmark movie

Review by Gabriela Benevides ★★½

is this a cheesy cringy stupid hallmark rom-com? yes. did i wish those cheesy cringy stupid things happened to me instead? also yes, very much so.

Review by Kay 🌹 ★★

Not as bad as I thought it would be.

Review by Brit 🔪 𝖘𝖍𝖆𝖗𝖕𝖊𝖗𝖙𝖊𝖊𝖙𝖍 🔪 ★★

They say “her pen pal?” very quickly into the movie. Top quality writing. 

Honestly, though I just miss Paris a lot and would like a chocolate croissant ;(

Similar Films

Select your preferred backdrop

Select your preferred poster.

Screen Rant

Her pen pal.

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Clare Niederpruem

Reviews (0)

Have You Watched It?

Be the first to leave your review.

Your Rating

Mallory jansen.

Victoria Lewis

Joshua Sasse

Jacques Artis

Lachlan Nieboer

Cameron Reisch

Jayne Wisener

Amy louise pemberton.

Nathalie Moore

Gregory Haney

Mike Halstrom

John MacDonald

Amanda blake.

Jen Thomson

Your comment has not been saved

Have you watched it?

Be the first to leave a community review!

Sign In / Log In Now to Start or Join a Discussion

Related Titles

That '90s show, sex and the city, emily in paris.

We sent an email to [email protected]

Didn't you get the email?

By joining, you agree to the Terms and Policies and Privacy Policy and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

User 8 or more characters with a number and a lowercase letter. No spaces.

username@email

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

• About Rotten Tomatoes®
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening This Week
• Top Box Office
• Coming Soon to Theaters
• Certified Fresh Movies

Movies at Home

• Fandango at Home
• Prime Video
• Most Popular Streaming Movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• 81% Emilia Pérez Link to Emilia Pérez
• 95% A Real Pain Link to A Real Pain
• 100% All We Imagine as Light Link to All We Imagine as Light

New TV Tonight

• 92% Say Nothing: Season 1
• 91% Silo: Season 2
• 81% The Day of the Jackal: Season 1
• 88% St. Denis Medical: Season 1
• 78% Bad Sisters: Season 2
• 84% Yellowstone: Season 5
• 84% Cobra Kai: Season 6
• 72% Cross: Season 1
• 70% The Creep Tapes: Season 1
• -- It's All Country: Season 1

Most Popular TV on RT

• 95% The Penguin: Season 1
• 73% Cross: Season 1
• 100% Arcane: League of Legends: Season 2
• 73% Dune: Prophecy: Season 1
• 77% Disclaimer: Season 1
• 95% The Diplomat: Season 2
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV

Certified fresh pick

• 92% Say Nothing: Season 1 Link to Say Nothing: Season 1
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

Netflix’s 100 Best Movies Right Now (November 2024)

All Ridley Scott Movies Ranked by Tomatometer

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming.

Awards Tour

Movie Re-Release Calendar 2024 & 2025: Your Guide to Movies Back In Theaters

‘Seen on the Screen’ Podcast: A Celebration of Universal Stories 

• Trending on RT
• Gladiator II First Reviews
• Holiday Programming
• Movie Re-Release Calendar
• Verified Hot Movies

Her Pen Pal Reviews

No All Critics reviews for Her Pen Pal.

Her Pen Pal (2021)

Stream & Watch Her Pen Pal

Cast & Crew

Movie details, similar movies.

Movie Reviews

Follow Moviefone

Latest trailers.