The Hired Heart

You can find lots of play-by-play reviews of this made-for-tv movie. You don't need another. Basically, this is a sweet Hallmark Channel style movie. Albeit, an after-hours/late-night, adult Hallmark movie. Still, it is a nice, sweet, hero-tale which shouldn't make the teeth ache. And has a few good smile causing scenes.

Penelope Ann Miller is excellent in the part of a small town country doctor. I just loved the storyline and also the guy who fell in love with her. They were so well matched. I particularly liked this movie because it did not contain violence. It was about love between two people and also the funny parts of their relationship. The movie held my interest to the very end. I don't want to say much more because I may give the story away, especially the ending, which I found very touching and heart warming. I cannot say enough about Penelope Ann Miller whom I consider a superb actress. She was absolutely delightful to watch in this movie which I thought was made just for her.

Relationships as depicted in cinema are so "perfect". Well, reality is different, very different. The plot of this movie forces us to stretch our imagination. But stretch it we do, as we watch the characters "bang up" against each other. The unlikely relationship strokes our curiosity and keeps us tuned in. This is not a classic. But it is a very enjoyable low budget Romance-Comedy that is very typical of LMN. I have seen it three times and still enjoy it. That it telling.

Brett Cullen is perfect as a charming dream guy in this movie.

If ONLY THE LONELY is the perfect lonely guy movie, THE HIRED HEART is a great lonely gal movie.

I am kind of surprised watching the LIFETIME channel. OLDEST BRIDESMAID had a lady lawyer out of touch with her emotions, BITTER BLOOD had a child killing housewife, and THE HIRED HEART had a lady MD with weird psychological problems. Keith Carradine, Brian Wimmer, Brett Cullen... the leading man is kind and nice. It just seems odd that these are the stories selected for a women's network.

THE HIRED HEART is a sweet, inconsequential but enjoyable romantic comedy of a pretty Wyoming widow (Penelope Ann Miller), the town M.D., still carrying a torch for her lost bull-riding husband after two years. Her father-in-law (the wonderful Barry Corbin) determines to get her 'back in circulation' for the town's upcoming Centennial Celebration, and he starts sending a stream of 'available' bachelors (a truly SORRY lot!) to 'court' her. Not willing to 'heal' from her loss, she concocts a scheme; she'll hire a male escort to 'pretend' to be her boyfriend, and convince everybody she's 'taken'...until the Celebration is over.

Visiting a friend (Barbara Gates) in Denver who runs an escort service, Miller outlines the plan, then leaves it in her hands to send someone who's attractive, but "with a few wrinkles". Gates comes up with a brilliant idea; she'd send her brother (Brent Cullen), an aspiring composer who, despite being in a long-distance relationship, had yet to find true love, to play the role. Despite misgivings ("I hope she's not expecting sex..."), he agrees, and drives to Wyoming, to join his new 'girlfriend'.

While the film is predictable (Miller, kissing and platonically sleeping with Cullen, soon feels her long-suppressed passions re-emerge; Cullen, moved by her good heart, falls for her, and tries to get her to 'move on' with her life), in the hands of a first-rate cast, the story never grows tedious. The 'male bonding' scenes between the suspicious Corbin and the wry Cullen are comic highpoints, and while the climax, with Cullen riding the bull that had killed Miller's husband (to prove to her HE wouldn't die), seems contrived, the two leads have such terrific chemistry together that you KNOW things will end happily!

THE HIRED HEART is a likable 'feel good' movie that may not linger in your memory long after it ends, but will certainly bring a smile as you watch it!