Unexpected Grace

This is a Hallmark movie, as such it is clean and the "Hallmark Kiss" comes during the last minute of the movie. My wife and I watched it streaming on Amazon Prime and think it is one of the better Hallmark movies we have watched.

I fell in love with Erica Durance when she was Lois Lane on the old Smallville series that came on air almost 20 years ago. She is still lovely and an even better actress now. Here she is Noelle, a college professor, that had lost her teenage daughter almost two years earlier, plus she and her husband appear to be headed for divorce.

Michael Rady is Jack, he had lost his wife and moved with his teenage daughter to a new town for a job as a construction chief.

Erica Tremblay is his daughter Grace, she finds a deflated balloon in their tree, it had been sent two years earlier by Noelle's now deceased daughter Toni, the thrust of the message attached was looking for a friend. So through a process that played out over time Noelle, Jack, and Grace became friends, and things developed from there.

Good script and good actors, all add up to a fine movie.

I am not sure one could adequately review this movie without including "spoilers". Thus said, I do feel it deserves to be recognized with, at least, some comments.

Recent Hallmark productions have taught me to markedly lower my expectations and it is a pleasant surprise to find that somebody there has not lost the touch.

This film deals with losses and grief with straightforward simplicity and honest emotions, devoid of intrusive messages or added intentions. There are no petty rivalries, nor abusive personalities to create drama. Good people sharing similar pain are brought together finding hope and healing. All is delivered with gentleness, grace, and moving credibility.

Erica Durance is emerging as a top star for Hallmark serious productions and, once more, does not fail in her role. Michael Rady is at his best and the young Erica Tremble, whom I remember from a few previous appearances, delivers a mature, convincing performance.

In the, regretfully rare, instances where people at Hallmark are able to focus , and keep their attention, on valid objectives, they can still create family entertainment with real value.

I watch a lot of Hallmark movies, but I don't write many reviews; however, this movie is extremely special.

This script was layered, authentic, beautiful, moving, and understated in the best way possible. With this type of script, the casting was very important. Luckily, they were able to get Michael Rady, Erica Durance, and David Attar, who all poured their hearts into their performances.

Unlike most Hallmark movies, this wasn't a straight forward romance story, this was a human connection story.

This movie was filled with mature and thoughtful conversations. Characters listened to understand, instead of simply listening to react. There were a lot of ways that this script could have gone off the rails, but it didn't. Each decision, while making this film, was obviously done with a lot of care and concern for the audience.

Wonderful movie. The story was fantasic, the acting was fantastic. Pretty much a constant tearjerker combined with laughter. Wonderful story about two families who have been devastated by grief but try to move on and find happiness and friends.

Nice story of a girl who has lost her mother and is trying to make friends due to her move in the middle of the school year. She finds a balloon from someone also looking for a friend. She ends up making friends with the mother and finds a family.

Realistic.plot, no great surprises, but beautiful and moving. So glad to see Michael Rady back in a Hallmark movie.

Hallmark's Movies and Mysteries network often goes beyond the rom/com formula and this is a good example. There is a romance story squeezed in, but the movie is more a story of recovery from tragic loss. I find it interesting that one of my most memorable movies with Michael Rady is Two Turtle Doves which has some similarities to this one.

The approach taken here to the grief theme seems to me that it is a pretty sure way to grab the heartstrings. Two teenage girls dealing with loneliness are at the center of the story. Tragedy and grief are prominent in both of the central families.

There is sadness in the story yet hope outweighs the sadness.

I think all of the 3 main actors did a fine job with their parts. (I started to say 4 main actors and realized the Toni's character was ever present despite only the briefest snippet of screen time.) I don't think I need to say that they captured the emotions felt by their characters.

Side observation - in today's world of antagonism and blame everywhere you look, it was nice to see a father be open minded and not jump too quickly to accuse Noelle of impropriety in the early stages and dismiss her.

I think there is probably much to absorb in a repeated viewing that I missed the first time through.