Sam & Kate

Just watched it and it's lovely. Nothing groundbreaking, but on the other hand, one could say they don't make films like this any longer, unfortunately.

It's a simple story and yes, there are a couple of clichés, but it's still refreshing. Do you know why? There is a man and a woman, and they fall in love. No propaganda whatsoever. How sad is it that this kind of story is such a rarity these days?

One annoying downside is that it is marketed as a romantic comedy, which it is not. There is one character who is there for comic relief, I guess, but he is not funny.

Dustin Hoffman is fantastic. He is one of my favourite actors ever. It hurts to see him getting so old...

This is a really special film about love, loss and relationships. The cast is superb and I can't believe this film slipped under the radar the way it has. It's far better than the average ratings suggest and touched a nerve for me in several places.

Casting the real life father and son with the Hoffman's was a great touch. There is levity and drama and on the whole just a real genuine and heart felt backbone that's true to life.

Another stroke of genius with the casting is Henry Thomas, of E. T. Fame and more recently the string of successful Mike Flanagan series, in the role of Sam's trusted friend.

This is well worth the watch. If you're at all tempted you will definitely be rewarded.

Some may feel prior to viewing Sam & Kate that the casting of film legends Dustin Hoffman and Sissy Spacek's adult children is a gimmick to garner publicity for the film, and of course it likely was an intended angle. However, Jake Hoffman and Schuyler Fisk are accomplished actors in their own right so the on-screen interactions are very organic and natural and in no way a distraction. One comment I've read is that Schuyler is such a natural, bright light of a presence here and I agree we should see more from her on screen. The story itself is more dramatic than the marketing would lead you to believe, which is so often the case. But the storytelling is first-rate and moves along nicely with some unexpected character developments, even though Dustin's arc is fairly predictable from the start. Spacek has the strongest and most interesting material in my opinion and she performs with her customary charm and understated artistry. It's been a real treat to see some of her later work finally pair her with other film heavyweights such as Robert Duvall, Robert Redford, and now Dustin Hoffman. Overall, a mostly dramatic film with strong and likeable performances carrying the day.

Always being a fan of Dustin Hoffman and knowing the acting chops of Sissy Spacek, after watching the trailer it compelled me to watch.

A quarter of the way through I checked IMDB to see if possibly the character Sam was Dustin's son. The noses prompted me to check and I was pleasantly surprised to find out he was! Kate's similar looks to Tina (and nose too) was also Sissy's real daughter. The chemistry between this cast is so palpable as you feel the connections coming from the scenes.

I found myself smiling and chucking and also wanting to know what would happen throughout the whole movie. It was slower but it allowed me to feel the emotions it was giving and really enjoy it. You have to be in the right frame of mind to slow yourself down to really encapsulate what the movie so kindly gifts you.

I wouldn't consider it a romcom but it was about love and romance to be fair. Life, not being easy, is depicted in this treasure and will tug at your heart. I most definitely shed quite a few tears but also was left associating it to my own life many times and smiled as it was quite endearing. Being a creative, I enjoyed the collective tapestry of the art, music, books and small town living that brought the charm that makes it a cozy find.

No spoilers as this movie unravels deliciously and that's one of the best parts. I didn't want it to end and also, like others, felt the end was a bit rushed. It's slow burn and movies not wanting to be over 2 hours these days, possibly found it needing to come to a close sooner than it needed to be.

All in all, truly an enchanting find that even compelled me to write my very first movie review! If you like music lyrics, don't miss listening intently to the last song played by Kate on piano, really puts a bow on the love this movie brings.

As I sat down to watch the 2022 comedy "Sam & Kate" from writer and director Darren Le Gallo, I must admit that I had some expectations to the movie. Sure, I hadn't heard about the movie prior to getting the opportunity to sit down and watch it. But seeing that the movie had the likes of Dustin Hoffman and Sissy Spacek on the cast list, of course I had to give it a chance.

The storyline in "Sam & Kate" is actually interesting and nicely written by Darren Le Gallo. I enjoyed how the narrative in the movie was something very relatable and realistic, and it made for a very down to earth viewing experience. However, I must admit that I felt that the end of the movie felt rushed, as if they were running out of funds and had to close down production post haste.

The acting performances in "Sam & Kate" were good. And the movie is nicely carried by the cast ensemble, which includes the likes of Henry Thomas, Tyler Labine, Schuyler Fisk and Jake Hoffman, not to mention Dustin Hoffman and Sissy Spacek, of course.

I was genuinely entertained by Darren Le Gallo's movie, though I wasn't fond of the ending. But if you enjoy a feel-good drama, then you definitely should watch "Sam & Kate". Now, the movie is listed as a comedy, but this is not the type of comedy that will have you toppling over laughing. Nay, this is more of a drama laced with comedy elements.

While "Sam & Kate" certainly is watchable, this is hardly a movie that warrants more than just a single viewing.

My rating of "Sam & Kate" lands on a six out of ten stars.