Una nuova occasione

Sad to say, this movie missed so many opportunities to make a strong political statement on behalf of women. To focus, instead, on the most shallow and neurotic aspects of a woman turning 50, as though her life is ending, left this faithful viewers really concerned. What was Hallmark saying? That a single woman with an honorable profession as a teacher, with a beautiful home, and a healthy body is bereft at turning 50? Where in our current culture does a professional woman of 50 think that life is over? The writers of this script really took us back 30 year of progress in women's lives. A really sad statement,

In addition, Teri Hatcher was presented in a most unattractive manner. Her hair was unkempt and scraggly, flying all over the place, her clothes were too tight and unflattering, and her bemoaning her fate at turning 50 was simply not believable.

As for the daughter's love life. A bit of better judgement could have been applied here. She looked 16 years old. Her romance seemed childish, silly, and unbelievable. Two women making a life commitment should be presented as a great deal more mature and intelligent. These two little girls looked like they're playing 'make-believe", pretending to be grownups and mature enough to make a serious life decision.

Interestingly,the only cast member who had the most valid adult emotions and reactions was the ex-husband. He acted well, his role was written appropriately, his reactions and behaviors were perfectly believable for man his age and status in life. He was, for this viewer, the most likable fellow in the entire cast.

The new love interest seemed like a too-old flower child, seeking answers by exploring the universe, traveling, taking in all the cosmic messages the world offered him, and yet, immature enough to flounce off the moment his relationship with the leading lady felt threatened.

In all,this was a very feeble attempt at a challenging topic. If the woman in the story were turning 70 and concerned about her looks, her life purpose, etc. It might be minimally believable. But Teri Hatcher at 50? No sale! Hallmark needs to get more politically correct and up-to-date. Sorry. This was a truly missed opportunity to make a very modern and valid political statement.

This was very very frustrating to watch. Almost unbearable. But before I get into it, I just want to say how sad it is to see so many narrow minded reviews on IMDb criticizing Hallmark's impressive move towards being more diverse and inclusive. The people who throw around phrases like "woke garbage" and "woke agenda" just because Hallmark no longer ignores the lives of the billions of people who aren't heterosexual or White really need therapy. It's "disheartening" to read reviews that characterize tame vanilla depictions of same sex love as "immoral" and "filth". I'm a huge Hallmark fan and have been for many years. I have been generally impressed with how these new kinds of characters have been added to story lines, usually quite effectively (Love, Classified for example). But having diverse characters doesn't magically transform a bad movie into a good movie.

Teri Hatcher (who's 57) plays Mindy, who's turning 50 in the movie. She spends a lot of time telling everyone she's having a mid-life crisis and whines about getting older even though she's generally attractive and seems to have her health, a daughter who loves her, a fulfilling job, and lives in a beautiful home on a lake. None of that insulates her from feeling depressed, of course, but it's hard for the average viewer to have much empathy for someone like her, or be entertained by a movie with wall to wall whining and irrational behavior.

James Tupper (who's also 57) plays Sam, Mindy's first love from high school. He's a month younger than Mindy and, coincidentally, the uncle of the woman that Mindy's daughter Rita wants to marry. He is, according to Mindy, very "chill" and seemingly unbothered by the aging process. But, he later admits to feeling "insignificant and lost" and complains that in high school, Mindy made him feel that he "wasn't good enough". He certainly does his share of whining too. Indeed, one gets the feeling that all this angst and unhappiness would have played out better in a lengthy novel than in a Hallmark movie.

For reasons that are never explained in a satisfactory or believable way, Sam joins his adult niece Emily at the home of Emily's future mother-in-law (even though Emily didn't then know that Mindy was going to be her future mother-in-law). She's basically there for her girlfriend Rita, who's determined to plan an over the top birthday party for her mother- over her mother's repeated objections. Meanwhile, Sam and Mindy haven't said a word to each other in over 3 decades but, suddenly, he's staying at Mindy's place for a week because ....?

Mindy's home is quite nice, and presumably has plenty of room for her, her ex husband, her ex boyfriend, her daughter and her daughter's girlfriend. It also has a lovely private dock, a private beach, a lakeside fire pit, amazing rock work, a huge kitchen, a long wraparound deck, and it has a lake on one side and something akin to a National Park with a thrilling suspension bridge on the other. I realize that her EX husband is a doctor, but that house would have been pricey for 2 doctors who were still married. And yet she is somehow able to live there even though she's divorced and living on a teacher's salary. And she inexplicably thinks nothing of giving up her job as a teacher with no plan for what's next, or how to pay the mortgage. And her ex, who was presumably paying her alimony (which would have been based on their incomes), isn't thrilled with that development. But, as usual, Hallmark doesn't bother with pesky things like financial realities.

And no one thinks it's weird that Mindy's ex-husband Marc is invited by his daughter to live at Mindy's home for a week? Joining Emily, Rita, Mindy, and her ex boyfriend Sam? Actually, Mindy's therapist/friend does question the odd (ridiculous) arrangement:

Nathalie: "You could have said no" Mindy: "We both know that's not my forte"

Really? She couldn't say no, even though she was all too willing to share her strongly held opinions about what her daughter Rita should do with her life? No one who's been through a bad divorce, following a long marriage, would think of this arrangement as anything other than BONKERS. In the real world, Mindy would tell her daughter: "No, I don't want your father, who was the one who wanted the divorce, moving back in with me for a week, while my old high school boyfriend is also living with me for a week, while your future wife is also living with us for a week, while I'm having a complete mental breakdown over the fact that I'm turning 50."

There's a lot to not like about Mindy:

Sam: 'I can't say yes to you if I don't mean it" Mindy: "Really? I do it all the time"

What a peach. She even steals Sam's line later in the movie because, you know, growth.

But one of the worst moments occurs when she screams at the Octoberfest bar maids. Ugh. I REALLY hated her character at that point.

And then revealing special secret plans in a self absorbed hysterical fit? Ugh.

Although the love between Emily and Rita was believable, they shared Mindy's unrealistic approach to life. Quit their jobs and travel the country for a year together ? With what money? The problem wasn't that they were gay, the problem was that they were making very questionable choices which, as usual, ignored the fact that food, gas, shelter, etc. Costs money. Ugh.

This was a really unpleasant viewing experience. But it doesn't represent the far better quality movies that Hallmark has been making. See one of those instead.

So many bad reviews here, but I found it to be a lovely easy watching movie. Are they sometimes a bit of a stretch... yes! But that's what we've come to enjoy...I always look forward to the new movies. It's a great way to spend an evening.

Happy to see that Hallmark has become a progressive company with real world story lines.

People that are offended by same sex relationship are not living in 2022. Everyone deserves to be represented in film or tv.

Terry Hatcher was great! Yes she is playing a character a few years younger but who cares... I would recommend this movie. It's hallmark people... just enjoy!

Weak storyline that should have had the lead role, Mindy Quinn, facing 60 since that's closer to her actual age. I typically like Teri Hatcher, yet this movie didn't work. Curious why Hallmark and the production team were okay with a 58 year old woman playing a 49 year old freaking out about turning 50. The movie's premise of a mid life crisis would have worked and could have been even more impactful with Mindy turning 60. The other lead actors who played Mindy's ex-husband and first love are also way past 50 years old. Are you trying to say that there aren't any actors who are 49-ish who could have been in this movie? I have a hard time believing this.

I agree if she was turning 60, not 50, it would have been more believable. And, yes, the main character is pretty unhinged, but a lot of the story is true to life. We've had real life conversations like this with friends about how to talk to our 20-something adult children when we don't agree with their choices. As older adults, we can be far too practical and forget it was like to be young ourselves. And divorce really can rock your whole world...for years, making you question past decisions and your future direction. I welcomed a movie that talks about how life is messy, for both young adults and their older parents.