It’s rare to see the meet-cute. A convention of romantic comedies, a meet-cute is a way of getting the heroine and hero together in a charming way, say, by having them crash into each other in the school cafeteria or mistake each other’s identity.

The premiere episode of ABC’s new cop drama “Rookie Blue” actually has two meet-cutes, signaling that in this show, the important crimes will be of the heart, with a secondary focus on the professional formation of a group of puppyish young police officers.

The combination of love and training inevitably brings to mind “Grey’s Anatomy,” especially since the series is premiering just before the network’s “Grey’s”-influenced hospital documentary series “Boston Med.”

Against the backdrop of actual criminal activity, the romantic complications look even sillier than usual, so most viewers will likely find it hard to get involved emotionally. But soft-hearted and soft-headed types who are willing to settle for an attractive, energetic cast may find something to love.

In the opening of the premiere, airing tonight at 9, we see five young hotties being handcuffed to a bar by a group of uniformed police officers. Though the visual suggests they’re being arrested for underage drinking at spring break, this is in fact a hazing ritual commemorating the hotties’ completion of police academy.

The Meredith Grey in the group is Andy McNally (Missy Peregrym of “Heroes” and “Reaper”), who on her first day of real police work is involved in comical cases of mistaken identity with two potential love interests. The McDreamy of the two is Luke Callaghan (Eric Johnson), a capable, buttoned-down homicide detective. The McSteamy is the scruffy, brooding Sam Swarek (Ben Bass), an undercover detective in the narcotics division.

The second mixup is drawn out far too long to be either plausible or enjoyable, and Andy will likely bear the brunt of viewers’ frustration. After each little setback or triumph in Andy’s eventful first day, the camera lingers on Peregrym for a lengthy take that she can’t quite fill emotionally.

The four other rookies in the ensemble cast remain rather sketchy at the end of the first hour. Dov Epstein (Gregory Smith of “Everwood”) seems a little puny to be a cop. Chris Diaz (Travis Milne) is a little too eager.

Traci Nash (Enuka Okuma) is a straight-shooter who nonetheless has something to hide in her personal life. And Gail Peck (Charlotte Sullivan) seems to be a do-anything-to-get-ahead blonde (a peek at ABC’s publicity release helped fill in this particular blank).

Like “Grey’s,” this show constantly has the young trainees messing up because of their inexperience and being corrected by their gruff superiors. “There is absolutely no training that prepares you for life on the street,” the boss tells the rookies in his morning pep talk. “Serve, protect, and don’t screw up."

Also like “Grey’s,” “Rookie Blue” has lots of montages accompanied by wimpy singer-songwriter music and a voice-over in which a female character explains what we’re supposed to be thinking and feeling.

The attempts to drag a little sex into the story line are absurd. In two different scenes, the subject of strip searching comes up. Chris tells Gail to make an attractive female suspect cough, “in case she’s got drugs up the ying-yang.”

Oddly, the most unusual feature of the show is its least interesting. Unlike most dramas shot in Canada, “Rookie Blue” is making no attempts to conceal its setting. But it also makes no attempt to examine any cultural or procedural differences that might make the show feel fresher.

American viewers will probably conclude that newbies’ triumphs, tribulations and on-the-job romances are less interesting north of the border.