Daniel's Daughter

Originally for the hallmark channel, this is currently showing on roku streaming. So i'm sure it's family safe. Cate is a successful young woman, running a popular magazine. And engaged to be married. When her father passes away, his wish is to have his ashes scattered where they lived years ago. And to have his two friends sing at the memorial. But the two friends have a long feud going, and want no part of it. Is her own life as perfect as she thinks? Can she get everything ironed out? Stars laura leighton. It gets a bit sugary sweet and silly in places, but it's mostly good. Directed by neill fearnley. He appears to have worked mostly in television. Story by tracy rosen.

In 1982 New Kerry, Massachusetts, young Cate's life is turned upside-down when her mother died. She is sent away to live with relatives. It's 2008. Cate Madighan (Laura Leighton) is a high powered magazine editor in NYC. She's preparing to marry older media tycoon Stewart who doesn't want any more kids. She is sent a music box from her father and a letter asking her to scatter his ashes in New Kerry. She is flustered and reluctantly goes on the quest with her assistant Jeffrey. She reconnects with childhood friend. She has to patch up estranged friends Cavanaugh and Donahue for her father. She falls for small town lawyer Connor Bailey.

It's big city girl who discovers small town charms. There is some functional personal drama. The romantic leads are solid but there is limited heat. The childhood friend could have been a great character but they need a higher caliber actress. The two old geezers could be fun but they don't go there. There is no edge to the dialog and no tension in the drama. This is rather predictable and flat.

This is a very interesting story about a father who left his daughter after her mother passed away and placed her with people to care for her and she never heard from him in over twenty-five years. This girls name is Cate Madighan, (Laura Leighton) who has become a great New York Editor of a New York City Magazine and is going to get married to an older well to do man. Cate suddenly receives a crate and a note which has been sent to her by her father who has died, and causes Cate to lose focus on her life and she has to make a decision and she finds it very hard to find an answer to her problem. As this film moves forward there are many answers that Cate finds out about herself and also what kind of person her father really was. There is great photography and some very romantic scenes.

Well, I only watched it because Laura Leighton is in it, and as it turned out, that is the only reason to watch this TV movie. Leighton is believable and natural in the starring role and gorgeous as always. That's what the four stars are for.

Other than that, there is very little to it. I didn't think any of the characters had real depth. I found the male lead character rather boring. The story of Cate finding out more about her father and his motives falls short and unsatisfactory. Subplots involve a slight marital conflict and a falling out of two best friends, but there's not a lot to those either.

Oh, and the posh gay guy is not sharp enough a dresser for a posh gay guy.

The story takes place in a village that appears to be an Irish settlement in the state of Massachusetts, which adds a nice different flavour.

While slightly predictable, Daniel's Daughter is a sleepy and sweet drama focusing on finding the peace with past and present decisions.

High powered New York Magazine editor Cate Madighan (Laura Leighton) is living the good life - great job, a marriage on the cards and plenty of wealth but her life as she knows it comes crashing down when she gets news of her father's passing.

Having abandoned her as a child, Cate plans on heading to her home town for a brief visit to tie up loose ends only to find herself drawn in by old friends, new love interests and the last wishes of her dead father which make Cate question her current life back in New York.