Garry Marshall is brilliant. He made a mildly entertaining movie with an A-List cast and a name that virtually guarantees it a place in holiday rerun history. Valentine’s Day is like Crash-light. Really, really, really light. It follows a bunch of folks whose lives intersect in various ways as they break up, make up, find love or survive singledom on Valentine’s Day in Los Angeles.

The cast is a virtual who’s who of stars from the big and small screen – including McSteamy and McDreamy, Kathy Bates, Jamie Foxx, Topher Grace, Jessica Biel, Ashton Kutcher, Anne Hathaway, Queen Latifah, the two Taylors (Lautner and Swift), former Alias co-stars Jennifer Garner and Bradley Cooper, Julia and Emma Roberts, Shirley MacLaine and Hector Elizondo… Need I go on?

There’s no real way to review the storyline without giving too much away. All I can say is the movie is enjoyable enough, if not particularly deep. Director Garry Marshall knows how to deliver a solid mainstream chick flick. And as a fellow Northwestern alum, it’s always fun to spot his quick nod to our alma mater – in this case on an extra’s sweatshirt. It’s also worth sticking around for the end credits. Among the outtakes – a fun, little salute to Marshall’s chick flick classic, Pretty Woman. Watching Valentine’s Day is like watching a special, star-studded edition of The Love Boat. If that floats your boat, then go and enjoy. If not today, then perhaps next Valentine’s Day.

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