Uma Nova Vida

In a time and space where movies are so saturated with over produced and completely CGI offerings, it is a nice break to get back to the basics of film making (story telling). This message is a good one, and even though the themes have been seen before, you will not go away feeling worse than when you started watching. Even though it is kind of my thing...I was not dissatisfied with this film.

A couple reviewers quit after 10 minutes or so. Yes, that 10 minutes was hard to watch. I think the mother might have elicited less harsh criticism if the script hadn't had her acting so childish. I don't disagree with how she felt especially about Mother's Day, but for a 30 or 40 something woman who also has years of experience as a professional, her behavior, between her virtual tantrum at work and heavy obsession over mother's day, was overplayed badly. And for the daughter of 19 years (yes played by a 26 year old) not to have a little better dose of reality given she's living with a single mom, that either makes her a spoiled brat or her mom too indulgent, or both. This family totally fails to gain the sympathy the single mom typically gets in stories like this.

Once they moved to Marion, the movie gets considerably better. I enjoyed not only her blooming relationship, but also Andrea's. I enjoyed the almost family like community atmosphere. And Paul Greene is always good.

The story isn't bad, but it doesn't have much high or low and it uses a lot of well worn plot devices. I did like the way they did the ending.

BTW: How did they fit all that stuff, which should have included luggage for 3 for a cross country trip into a CRV?

Same boring story told a million times. Take a shot everytjme the mom puts her hand on her face. Your gonna be wasted by the end of the movie.

My wife and I streamed this movie on Amazon. When it finished she said, "That was kind cheesy." Well, even though it is NOT a Hallmark movie it is made pretty much like one. Two single 40-ish people are attracted to each other, there is a falling out, and in the end they mend fences to end up together.

I didn't expect more, just a pleasant evening distraction and it does that. My only real gripe is that the lead actress, Heather McComb as the executive Diane Lawrence, has a very pleasant normal speaking voice but she routinely falls into a very unpleasant "gravelly" delivery ( one reviewer calls it a "frog" voice) that is very annoying and difficult to listen to.

Anyway she is divorced and has two daughters, one is 19 and the other seems to be about 11. An old aunt back in South Carolina passed away and in her will left the house to Diane. With two stipulations, she has to keep the dog "Mr." and has to live in the house for a year.

Diane had visited there when she was younger, even had a serious boyfriend she left behind. Amazingly he is still there, he is still single, he owns a store in town, and he remembers her.

So the movie overall is really about people finding what they really want to do, and is a career more important than a loving relationship? Overall pretty well done. Except for the "gravelly" voice of the main actress.

The story itself is not a bad thing. Paul Greene also never disappoints. He's the reason I gave it at least a 3.

Someone mentioned that Diane, the mother, was selfish and not a caring parent. My take is that, in the beginning, she should have been honest with her kids and let them know how hard she was trying to hold everything together. I didn't find her to be uncaring at all, she just had a lot on her plate and was really stressed, while trying to be a single parent.

The teenager, Andrea, was the snooty, immature, rude and disrespectful brat. She played her part very well.

I kept getting more and more agitated while watching this movie. Reading the responses here, someone hit the nail on the head. TOO GIDDY. Way too much laughing, or nervous laughter for everything. My goodness, Diane couldn't hardly say a word without the constant annoying laugh. It surprises me that the director kept all that in.

It would really be a great movie to watch again if you could cut out all the annoying laughter.