Reviews

First things first: There are "cliffhanger" kisses (spoiler alert...hopefully the only spoiler)

Thankfully, it's not all there is to this movie. FEELINGS, nothing more than feelings (I just mean, this is not really a review):

This movie is about the love for family, and its importance...of letting people in...and maybe, also about the true meaning of Christmas.

I like the chemistry between Steven Weber and Kari Matchett. There's something so real about the way they look at each other.

Thankfully I also like the chemistry between the two leads, Tori Anderson and Steven Huszar.

The little girl, Scout, played by Lyla Elliott, is more than adorable. She may only be a supporting character, but she was able to internalize well. She longed for her father, but she still was able to exude the joy within. Troy Bundle and Janet Porter play her parents. They were believable enough.

Vanessa Matsui(Carrie, Amelia's Executive Assistant and friend) is a natural, but she wasn't able to display it much here. Still, she made the most out of her role.

Byron Abalos, Nathan, well, he did what he could with the role given to him. He's good.

Anyways, instead of doing a roll call and give more spoilers, I think I'll just say that yes, there are predictable stuff, but there are some surprises too.

Thanks for your time.

:-)

I am a Cignal subscriber and they hyper-advertised this. I was like the reviewer michaelandrewpettersen. I kept on shaking my head and told myself it was a crazy concept, but when I learned that this movie was written and directed by Jun Robles Lana, then maybe, just maybe he researched about it.

As shown in the movie via Aries' research it is possible, so I did my own researching and this is what I get(and I think, but I am not sure, this is the same research by Aries show on film):

"Wi-Fi and other free to air electromagnetic waves had long been the subject of suspected detrimental health effects. Some even believe they are in some way allergic to Wi-Fi. Unexplained bouts of headaches, dizziness, and even skin irritation have begun to be blamed on some form of severe discomfort or hypersensitivity to electromagnetic fields. The condition has come to be known as electromagnetic hypersensitivity syndrome, or EHS for short, by the World Health Organization.

One recent case of a 15-year old girl from the UK claims that she committed suicide because of her exposure to Wi-Fi signals. Her family claimed that signals at her school made her feel physically sick as well as suffer from blinding headaches. So bad were these, it is claimed, that she found it hard to concentrate. The case was actually reported on by the Daily Mirror."

It's from the Interesting Engineering Website.

Whether it is possible or not, the movie was...I mean, is...surprisingly interesting.

There were scenes there that I wished didn't happen, but it added spice to the story.

Aries said that he hope that his love would heal her, and so it did.

I shed a lot of tears, but there were parts that made me very happy too.

Why did Aries have to go to some faraway place that was even farther than the place Norma resided for months? Why? Oh, that healing love "thing".

The ending is bittersweet, but I still liked it.

Maybe it's not everyone's cup of tea, but for me it was fairly enjoyable.

This made for TV Movie is LOOSELY based of THE LAST CHANCE MAVERICK by CHRISTYNE BUTLER.

The premise of two broken people is still in this uptv/Hallmark movie, but the situations are so different.

The book is about JONAH and VANESSA. Vanessa is new to Rust Creek Falls, and Jonah/Jonathan, is back after eight years.

Both of them are wounded, and in the book, Vanessa, her friend Adele's recent death devastated her, making her almost lose all ability to paint.

The take of the movie is quite different. I agree with phd-travel, the approach is quite gloomy, but there are lots of inspirational stuff here and there.

KIMBERLY-SUE MURRAY is so beautiful. It's so understandable why as Vanessa, Nate Dalton would be smitten.

She is a traveling artist here, painting it forward, because she was blessed by her best friend, SAMANTHA(Adele in the book), with her trust fund, and a bucket list.

JOSH DEAN is not bad to look at, but at first I thought Ms. Murray was too gorgeous for him, but he grows on you. Later in the movie I saw the balance, and other reviewers elsewhere saw it too(I don't wanna pretend I didn't read other reviews).

They do have something beautiful going. Conflicts here and there, but you would also grow to love the people around them. The kids(I just hope a certain kid did not try to show he was painting, because it became obvious somebody else painted it), Iris (KELLY BISHOP), Wallace(MICHAEL BROWN), and Carolyn(LILY GAO) plus dear Dr. Lawrence(MÉLANIE ST-PIERRE) are characters that became dear to me while watching this movie.

There were some lines that I questioned and made me thing, "So now that she's ____ he..."

What else?

Oh, those people who always complain about "cliffhanger" kisses won't be kissed deprived here.

I guess that's it.

Thanks for your time.

When I first saw the trailer almost two years ago I didn't think much of it. I just finished watching two movies about people in active service being called during the Christmas season.

The movie is set near FORT GARLAND, Colorado, where CATHERINE BELL's character, Jane McKendrick, and her daughter, Betsy(MATREYA FEDOR), stayed on even after her husband, Daniel, was killed in action when he was deployed in an undisclosed place.

Betsy has an instant connection with Private Tyler Sloane(ANTHONY KONECHNY) as soon as he enters the Diner where she works part time at, owned by handsome and single Jackson(VICTOR WEBSTER), who is in love with Betsy's mom, Jane.

Betsy is eighteen(18), so she's an adult, but she's also a senior in High School. She is very intelligent, and I'm sure, if she sets her mind into it, she would be a great veterinarian one day. She is a finalist for a full scholarship in one of the prestigious schools in California, plus she sings well.

Even with all that, her mom is overprotective of her, because she doesn't want her to experience the same kind of pain she underwent, not knowing by doing so, she is kind of driving her away, and hurting her even more.

Yes, Christmas-Reviewer, her mother has a point, and hat's why I also gave it a six like you. The movie's characters is sort of unfair to her. Betsy's in High School, but we have to remember she's also already eighteen years. In other societies, eighteen is still a child, but in the US of A, eighteen is considered an adult already, and Betsy is headstrong. Still, even if she's a bright kid, why did she make her mother worry more?

In the hospital it was normal for Jane to feel "that way", but I also understand the hurt Tyler and Betsy felt.

the Plus Points for Me

*I love horses, and the horses are beautiful

*the ice skating rinks

*the good people who love Jane and Betsy

My first love is not my forever love. I have let him go long a year before I decided to almost elope with my boyfriend at seventeen. I just saw my "future" that thankfully wasn't etched or set in stone, and I didn't like it.

The one that got away is now happily married with a wonderful person, they have three wonderful kids, and one is married. Hopefully they would have a grandchild soon.

So why do I like this movie? Well, not entirely, but here are the plus points:

One, Casey Manderson is not so bad in this flick. He is so typecast, but I'm glad they gave his role a twist.

Two, Sarah Jane and Andrew have chemistry...yes, maybe it's not great...I kinda like Jordyn(18-year-old Megan) and Nicholas(18-year-old Joe)'s chemistry more...but it works.

I liked what Rosie Quinn reminded us(written somewhere in her Cafe): Don't tell people your dream. Show them.

I also like Frances Figgins and what she stands for.

I like Lily. I kinda think she's the real reason they split up. So she could be born. Well, I dunno. One could argue if they didn't split up, Megan could've been her mother. Oh well.

My top reason for liking this flick is ANDREW W. WALKER. ;-) As for his character (look below)...

********

Remember when I said I like it, but not entirely?

There are many things I didn't like.

For one, she's supposed to be a bright and talented woman...Megan, I mean...and yet, she didn't tell her boss that the lake meant something. Why wait the last moment? Why make her seemingly stupid? She had many chances. Her overbearing boss deserved a kick . He said he read her resume. Instead of promoting her first, he gave her an assignment...if she was doing such a good job, and he knows what's she's capable of. then he didn't give her an incentive. He played with her "feelings"...with her dream of becoming an architect. He needed her PEOPLE SKILLS so he made her wanting to become an architect so much as bait. Just because they are one of the top companies...haist.

Oh, and I agree with EVERYTHING sean-31607 said, and most of what these reviewers said: MIssM19 and darkavenger77. They kind of read my mind.

I guess that's that.

Thanks for your time.

Yes, it's a formulaic Hallmark movie, but it's the kind of formula that works.

There's this unassuming woman who doesn't know how beautiful she is, and that a very handsome calendar "boy" fireman/real estate designer/stager/ and whatever else connected with Real Estate, is at the very least interested in her.

They both fall in love almost at the same time. The very unassuming woman thinks it's a one-way-street. The calendar "boy" continues to date Blair Witch Project, and because his own parents' marriage didn't work out, he thinks there's no such thing as "forever" or a love that lasts.

I hardly recognised Gregory Harrison here. He plays the oldest Fireman/Division chief, and calendar "boy" Zachary looks up to him as a mentor. Zachary is played by Superman Returns' Brandon Routh.

Some say he doesn't know how to act, and thankfully Kimberly Sustad does, or else watching this would be a total waste of time.

Well. in MY opinion, and some others, our times are not wasted. For me, at the very least, there is chemistry, and I felt the kisses they shared, even if it's just for the story or the mistletoe's sake. His brown eyes, for me, are expressive. His smile, well it makes one's knees go weak. but I like Gregory Harrison more(LOL) even if, like what I said before, I hardly recognised him here.

I like this story because:

* it is very relatable. Here's this brilliant woman who practically raised her baby sister after their parents died. The little sister thinks she looks like their mom(maybe this was mentioned because Ms. Sustad played her mom before), and is very grateful to her, that she wants to set her up with everyone she could think of.

*The two lead characters are broken, but they have friends who love them.

*The cats, although I'm really a dog person(with stray cats who adopted us), are a double. They have chemistry. Both of them are great actors.

*The mountain lions, well, they play a big part in the two lead characters romance. Cheap thrills down to the spine when they two lead characters emulate the mountain lions.

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The firetruck incident towards the end was questioned...let's just hope there was no fire that day, and that their sweet moments were only a few minutes.

I guess that's it.

Thanks for your time.

First things first, I love the cast. From PATRICIA RICHARDSON, ERIN KRAKOW, JEAN LOUISA KELLY, ABRAHAM BENRUBI, ALBERT MALAFRONTE, and yes, even KAITLIN DOUBLEDAY(Celeste)

As for RYAN MCPARTLIN, well, he's handsome, but is it just me, or is he trying to sound like Ryan Paevey. Well, maybe I'm imagining things, or it's just a coincidence.

IAN ANDREW, who plays Donny, although a good actor, is not so adorable here. His character is actually very annoying. Donny wasted petrol/gasoline so that his dad and Samantha would have more time together. Who wastes gas?

As for the story, it's sort of predictable, but the DOBROFSKY couple is very creative. I know some of the viewers might not agree with me, because they think they made Samantha stupid by believing Celeste, but she did come back because she doubted her. Unfortunately, she had to see that kiss between them. Hmm...Yes, it's kind of an overused "conflict" scene, and between the two leads, they had lots of chances, especially when they were alone overnight, to kiss. When they do get the chance one morning, not even caring about morning breath and all(maybe they both use SCOPE---or breath tabs), there were some disruptions...the kids(Donny and friends). I hate that about most hallmark G rated flicks.

Enough of the spoilers, and I better cut this "short". :-p I've said enough already, but I must reiterate that I did enjoy this movie, flaws and all.

When I started watching this film I thought I was going to stop watching it after five minutes. The two teenaged daughters were such brats, and I didn't like the way they talked to their mother, but for one reason or another, I watched on.

There were some formulaic stuff, yes, and the "ranch" had financial trouble because the "friend" who helped them had big $$ in his eyes, and didn't care if the "ranch" helped a lot of people heal while forming relationships with the abandoned horses.

#HorsesAndAutism

I had two siblings with the Fragile X Syndrome and both of them were autistic savants(an oxymoron, I know). Both of them loved horses(they also loved food, art, swimming etc.). Horses made them happy, and they were able to ride them.

Fiona, one of the teenagers who worked in the ranch, taught a little girl with autism in this movie, and I liked how patient she was with her.

#QuestionsUnanswered

Maybe I missed it, but it's not clear to me if the parents are divorced, or if the mom is just too busy, and the dad just needs to be alone to write a book.

#WonderfulGrandparents

MORGAN FAIRCHILD and CORBIN BERNSEN play the bratty teenagers' grandparents. For me, they are the life of the movie, and because of them, I watched the whole movie.

What do I think about the movie?

The ending was kind of "expected" and the theme is kind of overused, but as a whole I liked it a lot...and yes, the HORSES are a big factor too.

Liz Murray is one of my heroes, and I became interested in her life AFTER watching this movie HOMELESS TO HARVARD: The Liz Murray Story.

There were some changes. In real life, after their mother died, Liz and Lisa lived together in an apartment, and Liz almost missed her interview, but it wasn't because of her very talented artist friend named Chris(MAKYLA SMITH). It was because she and Lisa were at the Welfare office to get money for their apartment because Lisa lost her job. Thankfully, at the last minute, she chose to go to that interview at The New York Times office, and eventually, she was one of the recipients of that 12K a year scholarships.

THORA BIRCH did great as Liz. True, her character wasn't shown. She did not know how to communicate much with people back then, but now she's a motivational speaker. She was more of a writer than a speaker before, but she was definitely very, very smart.

Liz left Harvard in 2001 to take care of her ailing father. She transferred to Columbia University because of proximity. When he was getting worse, she took a leave of absence in 2002. She went back to Harvard after he died in 2006 then graduated in 2009 in Harvard with a Degree of Clinical Psychology. She also took graduate school courses at the Harvard Summer School, et cetera, et cetera.

I don't know how accurate her best friend's story is, but I guess the part of the abuse is real, because she went to group homes too.

Maybe this movie is about 90%. I am just guessing, but it is very believable to me.

I have yet to find out if Eva's, their upstairs neighbour, name was changed for her protection, or if that's really her name. It's because of her that Liz became learned, and was able to be promoted even if she just attended school sporadically.

KELLY LYNCH,MICHAEL RILEY, JENNIFER PISANA, Makyla Smith, CECIL WRIGHT, ARON TAGER, MARLA MCLEAN,MARGUERITTE MCNEIL et al were all immersed in their roles and did not give half-baked performances.

Maybe it's not the best movie ever produced, but it's great for a made for TV movie.

Ms. Murray is now pursuing a Masters Degree at Columbia University. She is married to James Scanlon, and is a mom to Maya Jean and Liam.

She also studied at Sarah Lawrence.

"Anything that is within someone else's reach is also within yours. Set your goals no matter how impossible they may seem. Then focus on what is between you and that goal. And then, simply take out the obstacles as they come."

-Liz Murray

Just before her dad passed on he wrote a card: "He wrote in the card, 'Lizzy, I left my dreams behind a long time ago. But I know now they're safe with you. Now we're a family again.'"

That's so touching.

FATE. I didn't make a mistake. Fate is the source and summit of this story, if I may say so.

To be honest, I read the review of a respectable reviewer of Rappler, Oggs Cruz, before being immersed in this film he called dull.

I wanted to know what made it dull, and I also wanted to know if I would have a different opinion or different opinions, or would I agree with him.

Expecting it to be dull made me appreciate the story more. Mr. Cruz is indeed right. There were times that I did yawn, but I don't agree with him regarding the pairing of ALLAN PAULE and DESIREE DEL VALLE.

Allan Paule's role, Dong/Bong/Zach, is really older. He did sow some wild oats here and there when he was younger, and when he met Desiree's character twenty years before the present time of the story, he knew she was the one.

EMPRESS SHUCK and DANIEL MATSUNAGA for me had some chemistry, but Joey, Empress' character, is so jaded, and she has trust issues.

ANDREA BRILLANTES having a crush on NOEL COLETA is forced? That's debatable. I think it's OK. Even if Tupe is older, he and Ally sort of grew up together, but her radar just didn't work correctly.

KRISTEL FULGAR as Mikee is extra pretty in this movie. This should've been her biggest break if ever the people involved in this movie played their cards well.

As for the aerial shots, they were great for travelogues...and maybe that's how the director wanted it to be...a travelogue for SAMAR.

They even showed stuff about weaving, the secret kitchen, the traditions during wedding receptions.

Yes, it's probably really a dull film, but it's a matter of perspective. I do agree that there are loose ends, and it could have been better.