Just Jake

7.6 stars.

'Just Jake' has a few touching moments, far exceeding many of its other moments. This film is like a potpourri of good feelings mixed with dull ones. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed some scenes very much, while I sat and waited patiently through the slower and less interesting ones.

First of all, this storyline has really been overused and I'm a bit disappointed at its reappearance. It's about a boy who left his girl behind after graduating high school to pursue a musical career. Of course, now over a decade later, he is a famous country music artist. He returns to his hometown, and the drama unfolds. I mean, really, this concept has been chewed, spit out, chewed, spat, chewed, spat, chewed, swallowed, digested, expelled and chewed. And spat. There's got to be some original material out there to be found. But what this lacks in originality, it more than compensates for in musical mastery. In addition, the few emotional romantic encounters will leave you yearning for the return of your first true love.

Was a very enjoyable movie. It was the standard formula, high school sweet hearts, one leaves without telling the other why, he/she returns etc. This storyline however fits well with this formula and allowed for the musical talents of the actors to shine. I love Brittany Bristow and especially now that she is being portrayed in lead actress roles rather than the friend or assistant. She gives her characters sincerity and level headedness. She could never be the overbearing know it all types who are truly grating. I thought I read somewhere, that her husband was in the background in the movie but didn't spot him. Rob Mayes was great and his singing is powerful. I am looking for other moveis with him. This movie is a treat to watch.

This movie makes use of the story told many times in different ways, of a person leaving town for a number of years then returning, more mature, with a chance to have a better result.

The movie is set in a fictional Colorado town and actually filmed in Castle Rock. Amber took over her parents' former business when she turned 33, turned it into an upscale coffee bar, and calls it 'COFF33". Then she and all the townsfolk see a news report about Jake, her old boyfriend who left about 10 years ago. Seems he is making it as a hot tow truck driver who also plays guitar and sings country.

Jake thinks things are going great in Nashville but he seems stuck, he can't quite finish a song and the studio has doubts about his keeping power. He ends up back home, he and Amber seem to still have sparks for each other. And the story develops from there. Even though it is not a Hallmark movie, it plays a lot like one.

My wife and I watched it at home, pleasant and clean entertainment on a Saturday evening after dinner and wine.