Despite its obvious low budget, The First Valentine is quite memorable and well-directed. The sets and costumes are of excellent quality, fitting nicely with the style of much more expensive Roman Empire films. The script is insightful and straightforward, not wasting time on too many subplots or too much melodrama. Despite a few moments of overacting, the cast does an excellent job of conveying the simple story and winning over the hearts of the audience. Even the framing storyline (while extremely 1980s-stereotypical) is charming and feels appropriate to the subject material. The handling of Saint Valentine's story and the legends surrounding his death may not be entirely historically accurate, but the story has its own charm and uses the familiar Valentine's Day message effectively.
You won't find many traditional, accurate historical Valentine's Day movies (especially not those that are entirely appropriate for the entire family), but this one fits the bill and is quite memorable.
You won't find many traditional, accurate historical Valentine's Day movies (especially not those that are entirely appropriate for the entire family), but this one fits the bill and is quite memorable.