The Substitute Wife

When I saw this film televised on British TV, I enjoyed it so much that I tried to get a copy for 4 years. Eventually I managed to get a second hand copy - all this by a woman who has never bought a movie video in her life before.

This film is extremely sad with amazingly funny moments interspersed. Just when you feel like crying over the sadness of the situation (the wife suffering badly and dying from cancer, watching her children interact with another woman, who appears stunning, glamorous and frustratingly desirable to her husband) a character will utter something that makes you roll about with laughter.

The film isn't supposed to be realistic, it would never happen surely, but even so it makes a fine story line and does test your emotions in all directions. Don't take the film too seriously, take it as it comes and enjoy every moment. The male actor playing the husband is completely fantastic in his role. His expressions and wry comments have you fascinated from the word go.

Get hold of a copy and enjoy a non-violent, entertaining tale of sadness, friendship and honour.

PS: I'm NOT a woman who enjoys sloppy rubbish films, so don't write it off as a womans film!

I had watched this film when it first came out and was left emotionally moved by it, so much so that when the opportunity arose to view it again came up i thought, yes why not! Lea Thompson played the wife who was dying. Loved and determination drove her to find someone to love and care for her husband and children when she was gone. Having loved someone deeply but being unable to be with them, yet being glad that someone else could be, I could relate how she would be driven by pure motives. The subject matter was dealt with in a realistic way and the acting was natural and drew me into the situation as an onlooker, being able to view the situation from each of the characters position. An excellent film, well worth the time taken to watch it!

I thought the movie was good and kept me watching it but I was very surprised when it has a PG-13 rating. I wouldn't want my grandchildren watching it. I thought that it was very similar to the other Hallmark movies with a similar plot but this movie actually came first and I think that is why the other movies were improved on from it. I believe that back in those days they would not have had allowed actions in front of the children such as was in this movie. I really felt, all in all, that the movie was heartwarming and kinda sweet although I wouldn't have done it that way, I don't care what the ways were. Nice movie for a lady to sit down with a cup of tea and watch, not sure that the husband would appreciate it.

I was captivated by this story because you don't see many stories like this. A woman is dying and finds someone to replace her to take care of her husband and children. Eventually the husband and the replacement start to care for each other and the wife approves. There is more to the story. Was sad and funny and very good story telling.

1869, at a farm in Nebraska. Amy Hightower (Lea Thompson) discovers that she is affected by an incurable illness. Wife and devoted mother, she decides to find a new woman for her husband, Martin (Peter Weller). Having finally persuaded her husband, Amy visits numerous widows, but always returns empty-handed. Frustrated, she eventually makes her proposition to prostitutes. One of them, Pearl ( Farrah Fawcett), accepts immediately...

Looking like "The Little House on the Prairie ", with a shot of vulgarity and a good dose of unlikeliness. On this insipid cream tart, a cherry: Farrah Fawcett!