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Hallmark Media
Valentine’s Day is like the Super Bowl at the Hallmark Channel, and this February has seen some great releases like The Way To You and Missing the Boat, but it’s possible that the most spot-on Valentines movie of all was saved for Feb. 14, and that’s Because of Cupid. The rom-com stars Amy Groening and Evan Roderick as Naomi and Marcus, best friends who work together as bartenders. When a mystery man they meet at the bar gives them a special elixir, Naomi uses it in a cocktail not realizing that the man is literally Cupid, and the elixir is a love potion. Three couples end up drinking the potion and falling in love… and so does Marcus, who then admits to Naomi that he’s in love with her.
BECAUSE OF CUPID: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?
The Gist: Naomi (Groening) and Marcus (Roderick) are employees (work husband and work wife, really) at a bustling wine bar. One night at the bar, they meet a friendly man named Hal (Adam Tsekhman) playing darts who can sense that Marcus has feelings for Naomi and she’s oblivious. Hal.. or should I say, Cupid, is not quite of this earth, and he’s got a magical quality about him. Hal says he runs a tea shop and invites Marcus and Naomi to a tasting so they might be able to incorporate some of his teas into her drink menu – she’s the resident mixologist and she’s trying to get some new mocktails on the menu to increase business. Hal gifts Naomi a vial of a syrup he made – it’s a love potion, although Naomi doesn’t know that -– so when she uses it in a drink during a singles mixer at her bar everyone who drinks it, including Marcus, appears to fall in love with the person they’re with.
Naomi thinks Marcus is simply going crazy when he admits he loves her, until he reveals that he knew all along that Hal gave her the love potion, and that’s what’s making him do it. Naomi is too rational to believe any of this, but when they go back to Hal’s tea shop to ask him about the elixir, they see that it has disappeared, and so has Hal.
Even though Naomi is on a quest to find an antidote to this love potion, it opens her eyes to the fact that maybe, even without the potion, she and Marcus actually do share a real connection.
What Movies Will It Remind You Of? Because of Cupid is inspired by magical, whimsical tales like the Greek myth of Eros and Psyche and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Performance Worth Watching: As Cupid (or Eros… or Puck… whichever devilish matchmaker you prefer), Adam Tsekhman is delightful as he causes mischief and good trouble, all in the name of love.
Sex And Skin: None.
Our Take: Because of Cupid is a modern love story rooted in classic myths. Naomi and Marcus are clearly perfect for one another and Naomi simply doesn’t realize it (or isn’t willing to admit it), which is how so many love stories start. At the same time, Marcus really does love her, and once his love potion kicks in, he actually admits it to her, but fortunately, Evan Roderick doesn’t overact or oversell his romantic feelings. Neither character falls into a trap of being too resistant to love or too much in love, respectively, and that feels important, it keeps the movie, which has so many other fantasy elements in it, grounded.
What often makes a movie like this one succeed is a great ensemble. While Naomi and Marcus are the focus of the film, there are also three other couples who are part of their little universe who have also drank the love potion and are dealing with the starry-eyed consequences. While Naomi and Marcus play their relationship pretty straight, each of these other couples is definitely having fun playing with the ridiculousness of the situation and they really lean into the humor of it. Because of Cupid hits the bullseye by smartly combining little bits of mythological lore with modern elements for a truly fun rom-com.
Our Call: STREAM IT! Because of Cupid is the perfect fantasy for the fantasy-resistant. It combines a dash of whimsy and magic with a clever and funny script laden with tons of literary and mythology references, and it’s the perfect excuse to stay curled up and cozy on the couch this Valentine’s Day.
How To Watch Because Of Cupid
The only way to watch Hallmark Channel live without cable is by using a live TV streaming service. We recommend DIRECTV, which comes with a five-day free trial before payment begins.
DIRECTV offers a number of flexible subscription options, including Genre Packs, so you can best choose which streaming plans fit your needs and budget. Plans start at $49.99/month.
Liz Kocan is a pop culture writer living in Massachusetts. Her biggest claim to fame is the time she won on the game show Chain Reaction.
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