Love Again

It’s not just an ordinary assembly-line romantic comedy. Rather, Love Again is an ordinary assembly-line romantic comedy with Celine Dion.

Perhaps a rare instance where an entire movie has been crafted around an extended cameo, the legendary pop diva’s presence at least enhances the soundtrack, if not the woefully predictable plot suitable only for the most indiscriminate genre devotees.

Lacking subtlety and surprise, this latest portrayal of angst-ridden millennials desperately seeking companionship doesn’t stray too far from the Hallmark template.

Mira (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) is a New York children’s author mourning her boyfriend’s death in a tragic accident. She struggles to recover personally and professionally, despite pleas from those around her.

As a coping mechanism, she texts her boyfriend’s phone, aware that nobody will read or respond to her messages. But somehow, the deceased’s number is switched with that of music journalist Rob (Sam Heughan).

So the obligatory meet-cute is more of a text-cute when Rob tries to figure out how to respond to what seems like an anonymous admirer. Does he simply reply, or try to track her down in person?

Meanwhile, Rob’s latest assignment is a profile of Dion — who plays herself in her big-screen debut — leading up to a concert, specifically asking whether she really subscribes to the hopelessly romantic lyrics that are her calling card.

Rather than an interview, his meeting with Dion turns into more of a therapy session, with the singer assuring him that his heart will go on. “It might be crazy, but love doesn’t always follow the rules,” she opines.

The screenplay by director Jim Strouse (Grace Is Gone) — based on a novel that was previously adapted into a German film in 2016 — doesn’t have anything fresh to say about grief or starting over.

The film deserves credit for dialing back the broad gags and forced quirks in favor of more grounded, character-driven humor that produces some scattered gentle laughs.

However, neither of the main characters is compelling enough to generate a sufficient rooting interest in whether they wind up apart or together. At any rate, there’s a second musician cameo in the form of Jonas’ real-life husband, Nick, who’s amusing as an obnoxious date.

Pleasant enough in spurts, Love Again ultimately strains to be cute and uplifting while it wraps up the proceedings as neatly as Dion’s hair and makeup.

Rated PG-13, 102 minutes.