ruthaw_1974

This movie is the exact recipe for a wonderful adventure. Imagine hot air balloons, spectacular New Mexico scenery & a delightful romantic comedy. Paul Greene & Gail O'Grady and Hallmark veterans & they are delightful as son & mother. Add in McKenzie Westmore who is new to the Hallmark universe & we have a recipe for a full course Hallmark recipe. Everyone did an exceptional job acting and the chemistry between all 3 couples in the movie is off the charts! Ready to go on a mini-vacation with a sweet romance & a hot hot air balloon guy? Yes please! Definitely a new favorite for rom-com lovers. Sequel anyone?

As the lead in this narrative, Luca Oriel gives an absolutely stunning performance as Alex. While I am unfamiliar with his previous works, I cannot praise him highly enough for the way in which he portrays this troubled young man. While Luca has a few other solid credits to his name, if he was not able to immerse himself in the character of Alex, the movie would have floundered into oblivion. His task is to convince the viewers through his incomparable performance that Alex not only wants to be a priest, but he is suffering from supernatural sightings and repressed childhood memories. His parents don't understand him. His friends don't understand him. He attempts to fit into the typical crowd of his peers, but there is that something different that you can't pinpoint which sets him apart as an anomaly. Luca gives an authentic performance that had me in his corner even when he was in the wrong. The pathos and sincerity he injects into this role, as well as the excruciating pain and emotion he displays in several key moments, have shaped this film into the masterpiece of storytelling that it is. Although her role may be incipiently considered small and unimportant, the role of Alicia, Alex's sister, is played by the captivating seasoned professional, Alison Fernandez. Alison has been featured in a wide variety of works including, Once Upon a Time and Jane, the Virgin amongst other roles. We can thank Alison for providing some cute and fun moments in what would otherwise be a "doom and gloom" film. But don't minimize her ability to carry off the dramatic and even the bizarre and poignant. Near the end of the film, Alison executes a scene that had me immensely riveted in spite of the fact that I genuinely longed to avert my eyes. While she can capture the essence of the sweet, angelic girl, her experiences with the supernatural will probably leave you breathless and in awe of her uncanny talent. Rick was the reason I even agreed to review this film in the first place, and as Father Cutler, he undeniably makes an impact despite his relatively brief appearances in the movie as a whole. While I know comparatively little about the Catholic faith, the disposition Rick has adopted for this film is undoubtedly in keeping with what I do know of priests. I enjoy the fact that he is a bit nontraditional at times and some of his recommendations, especially to Alex, may be suspect now and then, but his genuine concern for the well-being of his parish is always at the forefront of his mind. He attempts to be as relatable as possible in a century when traditions of the Catholic church are constantly changing and even being devalued. For Father Cutler, his faith is bona fide and organic as opposed to distant and defunct. And the fact that Rick is able to infuse those elements into a Catholic priest is something I greatly respect. Not since Bing Crosby played Father O'Malley have I seen an actor portray a priest with such a pragmatic persona and engaging air. The fact that his character is ex-military only increases his credibility and affability. In many ways, Rick is the actor who propels the story to its ultimate conclusion. Whenever tragedy strikes this small community, he is there to speak the words of healing and comfort. When Alex confides in him concerning his supernatural sightings, the audience discovers a surprising correlation in the life of Father Cutler himself. Furthermore, Rick's character proceeds to provide the audience with one of the most bizarre scenes in the entire film, and he does it in such a way that if you do not inwardly leap in unadulterated terror, I will be amazed. I have witnessed Rick handle the supernatural in other films, but his portrayal in this film supersedes those previous undertakings. Indubitably, Rick's scene by himself in the church is one that will remain with me for the rest of my life inasmuch as it is that potent and masterful. It is Rick's character (and also Luca's as well) that brings an ingredient to the film that I had not considered nor expected. In most supernatural films or shows, demons are explained away, killed, or just disappear at the end with no explanation (thus leading to countless opportunities for sequels). Because Adam Ripp and his fellow writers decided to involve the church and its traditions in this film, the religious aspect is emphasized in a way I am not used to seeing. Even the logline that is used to advertise the film–"Faith is Not Enough"–demonstrates that this film is not your average supernatural thriller. Therefore, when I state that I witnessed and even appreciated the symbols of faith in this film, I must disclose the fact that I also come from a place of faith myself. While I would not characterize this as a Christian film in any sense of the word, I found myself and my beliefs actively challenged on many occasions while I was watching. While I don't espouse the entire belief system or theology of this film, I acknowledge that it is not a "faith-based" film, and its purpose is to expose a wide variety of visceral issues that will speak to each viewer individually. Moreover, it is a film that I shall never erase from my mind, and I can only presume that anyone who chooses to experience this film will perceive its relevance far beyond mere entertainment value.

I believe it is one of the finest Lifetime films. It follows the typical script, but there are no bedroom scenes! While there is some mild profanity, no one loses themselves in wild passion, a usual mainstay of Lifetime films. Instead, the audience is focused on the story at hand. If I had one criticism, it would be that the audience is privy to knowledge that would have kept things more suspenseful for us. Kristy and Emily make the perfect team. I always delight in seeing Kristy in anything as she plays her parts so effortlessly and with such conviction. Together, these two are sweet, strong, and completely believable. I rooted for both of them throughout the film. In this role, Emily is able to demonstrate her immense range of acting that I have not witnessed previously. I never doubted her in the role, and her interactions with the characters were genuine and charming. In addition to this, there is a pristine vulnerability about her that makes the viewer connect with her fears and her joys. As these two face the reality of their imminent danger, both Kristy and Emily inject just the right amount of emotion into their characters to make this all seem real without being banal or overdone. As they both shroud themselves in a safe area away from the city and out in the middle of nowhere, I was jubilant to see Emily's character coming out of her shell and sincerely connecting with the horses and the country. Let's talk about Lucia Walters, shall we? As a police detective trying to protect the Palmer family against all odds, she is ideal. There is no doubt that her character is suspicious of the "bad apple" in the force almost from the beginning, but her journey to discover and prove her conjectures is portrayed with the kind of credibility that I would always expect from an actor of Lucia's caliber. As a definitive veteran of a wide array of films, it was nice to see Lochlyn playing a role that offered him the opportunity to give one of his best performances. He is so correctly cast because in various ways, he is a chameleon. Thus, if his credibility is questioned, he has succeeded in portraying his part successfully. When placed in scenes with Lucia's character and Kristy's character, he appears authoritative and in control. AWhen in scenes with Rick's character, he seems to have no backbone, but when faced with those he considers impotent, he appears to have true conviction. Money can cause a man to be less than he should be, and that is true in Detective Boyce's case. I do believe Lochlyn is able to succeed in representing this charlatan character rather well. Now let's talk about actor Rick Ravanello. I know I have seen him in other things before this–several, as a matter of fact. But it was this movie that caused me to become a fan. There is no doubt that Rick is a powerhouse actor, remarkably commanding in every scene, and it seems that all too often, he plays the "bad guy." In this role of Karl, he is "bad to the bone"–as there are no redeeming qualities at all in his character. And while as a viewer you cheer for his character to get knocked off quickly, you can't help but desire a plethora of "Karl" scenes because Rick plays him so masterfully. I don't know how he can be so believable as a bad guy when he is so nice to all his fans.Thankfully Rick is able to give a sense of charm to his bad guy persona as well. Again, I don't know how he does it, but he certainly has the knack for it. The excitement surrounding this film was that Sebastian was in it. And interestingly enough, he plays yet another cowboy. Although the character himself may not have been written with the care and charm of Cliff Harting on Cedar Cove, because Sebastian is the actor chosen to breathe life into Tom, he is as enchanting, captivating, and gracious as one could want. He is also a gentleman that never pushes too hard, but genuinely cares about these two ladies who are "hiding out" next door.

Sebastian is of a rare breed of actors who is able to bring credibility to any role he is given. While some actors might bring a little bit of woodenness and hokeyness to this role, Sebastian's performance always rings true. He is one who is the consummate professional who is always thorough in whatever role he is portrayingFrom the moment Tom and the Palmers meet, there is an immediate connection. Christy is drawn to the horses, and Sarah is thoroughly charmed by the way he reaches out to them even thought they are complete strangers. To witness the chemistry Emily and Sebastian had on-screen (very much like a father and daughter) was sheer delight for me as they were never on-screen together during Cedar Cove. There was something truly special that clicked between these two actors, and it made me fall in love with Emily as an actress while reminding me exactly why Sebastian is my favorite actor (not to mention my dearest friend). Sebastian has a unique knack with every actor with whom he works. While I am utterly impressed with the effortless chemistry he is able to develop with every actor and actress on- screen. While he invariably relates to each one individually and uniquely as befits their personality, he evermore exudes warmth, gentleness, and authenticity with whomever he shares the screen. . Both Sebastian and Rick play exceptionally off each other, and some viewers may be hard-pressed to decide who should win. But then we are reminded that Karl is the bad guy, and we can only hope that good will triumph over evil. I was thoroughly engrossed in this film from the jarring beginning to the most dulcet of endings, and I cannot recommend this film enough.