Safe Harbor

HUH - I'm a little puzzled about the user review that ridiculed this movie as a typical run of the mill "feel good" Hallmark movie. This movie is a real to life story about a charity called "Safe Harbor Boy's Home" in Jacksonville Florida. According to them this movie is extremely accurate with the exception of a large wave depicted for effect in one scene. Over 800 troubled youth have passed through their doors since their inception. They are the only parents many of these boys have ever had and many of these boys still call and send them cards for special days. I had looked this information up when the movie first aired, because this charity is in Jacksonville,FL and I live in St Augustine just to the south. If you want to watch something that is real, that tugs on your heart strings give this movie a watch.

This Hallmark channel movie is for those that can handle overly-sentimental heartstring plucking and forced emotional treacle. It's clichéd and predictable, and once you've watched the first 15 minutes you already know what the last 15 will bring.

A judge calls on a retired, childless boating couple to take care of some problem boys "temporarily". (You can already see what's coming, can't you?). Well worn problems and complications ensue and are solved the way maudlin stories always are, with the power of "goodness" winning the day. None of the drama flows naturally. It all seems overly manufactured, forced, and tacked on. Although, in its favor, we are not smacked over the head with God in this one.

If these Hallmark movies really do it for you, you won't be disappointed here. The production values and acting are OK but not outstanding. Think of a Brady Bunch movie and that's the level of talent we're talking about here. Fine viewing for those that think they might win the lottery, or that life is all kittens and rainbows. For those of us with a more jaded, realistic view of life, this movie grates on the nerves a bit.

Personally, I don't like it when a movie director tells me, "You're going to feel warm and fuzzy. I insist!" I've written George Lucas about that very thing involving his movies. He doesn't listen either.

Nancy Travis and Treat Williams portray a retiring couple ready to venture forth on the sea when a court person, Orson Bean, asks them to watch some troubled youth. You know that this will not become a temporary position.

The film succeeds because of the restrained performances, especially by Treat Williams. Usually a hyperactive character in his roles, Williams beautifully tones down to play a man who had earlier trouble with the law and was therefore sympathetic to the needs of these boys.

The film is great because it shows what the couple had to go through with an agent of the social service department. A bitter woman, who was once victimized by a charge that she watched over, her bitterness now is to try to take advantage of a system that could truly destroy the boys once and for all.

Shunned by the community, the boys shall have to work hard to gain the respect.

When they come to admit that they wished this couple had been their parents, who will definitely shed a tear.

Strongly advise others to see this worthwhile effort.

As it goes this movie is fair family fare,wholesome, non controversial and predictable.

Worth watching. We all are dealt a hand in life that may have never been what we planned but often brings us much more than we could have ever planned. Kudos to this couple and their caring hearts. To the negative reviewer....why watch Hallmark if you don't like the movies?