The Bouquet

I'm a tough movie grader, so when I give a film a "9", it's a great picture! Like a previous reviewer, I am thankful to the writer and producer of Bouquet for making this a non-rated film. Why do many movie makers think that we want PG, PG-13 an R rated movies, that are full of either obscenity, nudity or excessive violence? Yes, I concur with another reviewer about this negative situation. I am very pleased that Bouquet does not have junk in it that would make it the "child warning" ratings! I, also, want to give movie producers the plea to make more decent movies. I'd love to see more non-rated movies on the market.

We especially need some more Christmas movies that convey the real meaning of Christmas. It's about Christ, the Savior, not about fictitious Santa Claus, Elves, or other goofiness. Please tell your children and grandchildren the real meaning of Christmas. Give them a gift that lasts forever!

Okay, now back to the Bouquet movie... I won't tell you the story details, but it's a winning film!

7.1 stars.

Swanson plays a woman who is successful in business in the big city, she's been away from home for a while. She is like a prodigal daughter because her parents seemed to love her more than her younger sister. The younger sister lives closer to home, but doesn't see her parents very often, and is very jealous and feels like she's been living in her older sister's shadow for 30 years. Dad suddenly dies of a heart attack and the family must come together to reconstruct a dying business and a broken family. There is also a man in the picture who has been helping the parents run the flower business for many years. The older sister falls for the man (eventually), the younger sister falls for another guy (eventually). It's a disjointed film.

If this review seems disorganized it's because the editing, music, and directing of this film are also. I like the story and the message is relevant for most families. There is always going to be a more "special" sibling, and one or more siblings who have to struggle more to fit in, or get the attention they feel they deserve.

Kristy Swanson and Alberta Mayne play a pair of sisters who come home to help their parents and their flower nursery business. As kids the sisters were competitive as Nicola Cavendish their mother points out. Each went in opposite directions, Swanson became yuppie in the advertising business and Mayne became a back to nature social activist.

Their father's death really puts the financial crunch on the family as Mom finds out dad was running a smoke and mirrors operation to keep the wolf away. The sisters don't get along at first, but when they figure it out both have the skills that fill complementary needs to save the family business.

The Bouquet is a nice family film without too much religious preaching as I did see it on the Christian Broadcasting Network. Danny Glover makes a cameo appearance as a minister. The girls even realize a couple of romantic prospects in Michael Shanks for Swanson and Jeremy Guilbaut for Mayne.

You have to see how the sisters work it. In its own way inspiring.

I really enjoyed the Bouquet movie. This film is about struggling relationships that most people can relate to. Sometimes it takes a tragedy, or a loss of a loved one to awaken people to what is most important in life.

In the Bouquet movie, a father has a heart attack and dies on Easter. The saddest part, though, is that his two daughters were too busy in their lives to join the mom and dad for the Easter dinner... which ended up being the man's last here on earth! One daughter makes it to the funeral, but the second one arrives after everyone has left the graveside. She is seen at night, grieving over the father's grave. It is a heartbreaking scene!

However, the family blooms in a wonderful way, after the death of the dad. The sisters learn that family is more important then their personal pursuits and they gradually learn to love one another.

They learn that their mother needs them to unite to help her in restoring a failing floral business. The story, also, teaches everyone that special friends, such as a man who celebrated Easter with the elderly couple, can be more loving and loyal then the actual relatives. The man's story will melt your heart and you will learn how he became like a son to the elderly couple.

The Bouquet is about people, more then flowers. It shows how people from all races and walks of life can come together to help one another in Godly love. In a special way, we are the beautiful "Bouquet" This is a heartwarming movie and I highly recommend it to everyone! In closing, I would like to applaud the writer, Kele McGlohon and the director, Anne Wheeler, for making this great, meaningful Christian movie, that everybody can enjoy. Bouquet is a wonderful, non-rated movie, that does not have swearing, or any immoral behavior, or wild music or graphic violence. Thanks, and please keep making great productions, that are non-rated!

Terri Benton (Kristy Swanson) is a busy professional in the city who suddenly gets let go. The family flower business back home is failing. Then her father dies leaving her mother Bonnie (Nicola Cavendish) alone. She and her social activist sister Mandy Benton (Alberta Mayne) have to return home to help out. Family friend reverend John (Danny Glover) tells them the truth. Sam (Michael Shanks) is a guy who's been working at the business. They try to update their business as an alternative to chemical laden grocery store flowers.

It's a pretty sweet family movie. It's not anything surprising or big. It starts a little too slowly. The movie needs to gather the family a little sooner. The family relationships are where the drama exists. It's an OK TV movie with a good heart if the viewer has no expectations.