Joe-146

I saw this on Amazon Prime Movies, and while I'm glad I didn't pay to see this, I am glad it's getting some exposure. I can't think of one aspect of this film that hasn't been done better by earlier films. The exception is the female lead. Natalie Knepp takes what seems like an ambitious student film and gives it professional polish and a genuinely likable character. No easy feat considering the clunky cliches and cartoonish characters. I really don't want to savage this film. It was obviously a passion project for at least some of the folks involved. It's heart is in the right place, even if it does seem like am ambitious student film rom-com that tries but can't get out of its own way. I'm glad I saw it, because it put Ms Knepp on my radar. I haven't been this surprised and impressed by a performer since I first set eyes on Parker Posey in House of Lies. Sam introduced me to Natalie Knepp, whose resume needs to be much larger than it currently is. Still, what other titles I was able to track down confirm my positive first impression. Watch this film with low expectations. It's not as bad as some other reviews claim. It may not be original, or have witty dialog, clever situations and richly drawn characters, but it's not entirely without charms. Notably the fully committed performance and empathetic charisma of its lead. In the end, I'm glad I watched it.

I saw this on laserdisc ages ago, yet I still recall it fondly. It's successful mix of romantic cliches - the grating relationship between the naive 'country mouse' and the worldly 'city mouse'..... the inevitable unlikely bond... lots of standard romance parts. Still, set in the chosen timeframe - and over the chosen timespan - the story takes our protagonists on some journeys and trajectories that can really draw in the viewer. While the ending may be obvious before the opening credits roll, the journey there is what captivates the audience. A compelling story, well told, with superb performances from all involved. If you haven't seen this yet, and you're in the mood for a feel-good romance that is definitely NOT treacly, add this to your queue. It's very much of its time (the time it was made AND the timespan it portrays) yet the human story is pretty timeless.