Part Two: Paul Campbell’s Particular Kind of Hallmark Charm
Long before and after Surprised by Love, Paul Campbell built a career across television, beginning professionally in his early twenties and earning an early breakthrough with Battlestar Galactica. He later appeared in projects including Knight Rider and Spun Out, while gradually becoming one of the familiar faces of Hallmark’s romantic movies.
His Hallmark career is particularly interesting because Campbell has never seemed limited to one kind of character. Hallmark has featured him in romantic comedies, Christmas stories and mystery projects, including Wedding Every Weekend, Christmas by Starlight, Three Wise Men and a Baby, The Cases of Mystery Lane, Holiday Hearts and A Godwink Christmas.
That range helps explain why his performance in Surprised by Love feels so comfortable. Campbell understands how to play a character who can be funny without turning every moment into a joke. He can bring warmth to a scene without making it overly sentimental. Most importantly, he has a screen presence that encourages viewers to root for the character.
Gridley is especially well suited to that style. He is not introduced as the obvious perfect romantic hero. In fact, the story deliberately contrasts him with the polished image of Josie’s boyfriend, Richard. The premise begins with a plan designed to manipulate appearances, but the more Josie reconnects with Gridley, the more those appearances begin to matter less.
That reversal gives Campbell plenty to work with. His character becomes a reminder that charm does not always come packaged in the way people expect. Sometimes the person who seems less impressive on paper is the person who makes you laugh more easily, listens more closely and allows you to be yourself.
It is also impossible to talk about the movie without mentioning Tim Conway, who plays Josie’s grandfather. His presence adds another layer of warmth and humor to the family dynamic. Hallmark’s official cast information lists Conway alongside Burton and Campbell, and his involvement gives the movie an additional connection to classic television comedy.
The family element matters because Surprised by Love is ultimately about more than choosing between two romantic possibilities. Josie is also confronting expectations—expectations from her parents, expectations created by her career and expectations she has created for herself. That makes the story more emotionally accessible.
For viewers who return to the movie, the appeal can therefore change with time. Someone watching it for the first time may simply enjoy the romance and comedy. Someone watching it years later may notice the deeper question underneath: How much of your life are you living because it genuinely makes you happy, and how much are you living because it looks right from the outside?
