Film And DVD Reviews by Phil Boatwright

Hallmark Channel’s captivating saga returns with another touching film based on the best-selling Love Comes Softly series by Janette Oke. Centering on family values in the 19th century, the heartwarming story, LOVE’S EVERLASTING COURAGE, enlightens on DVD May 8 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

SYNOPSIS: Clark Davis (Wes Brown, True Blood) struggles to maintain his land and support his family during a long drought. With a bank loan to repay, his wife, Ellen (Julie Mond, General Hospital) takes a job in town as a seamstress, but soon becomes ill with scarlet fever. Devastated to lose his beloved wife, Clark and his young daughter turn to his parents for support. Clark must find a way to save his farm and survive Ellen's death without losing the person he loves most: his daughter.

The program also features Cheryl Ladd (Charlie’s Angels), Bruce Boxleitner (TRON franchise) and Morgan Lily (X-Men: First Class).

REVIEW: This is the 10th in the series and the producers have stretched it about as far as they can. Several past productions had something going for them, either nice performances or potent messages, or filmmaking that despite the made-for-TV feel, managed to hold our attention. But this one is merely trite and contains performances that are perfunctory at best.

That said, it’s clean, with positive messages about family and endurance, and it contains a respect for religious convictions, with prayers being spoken. But it’s cornball and clunky, with a syrupy background score. It’s innocuous, you won’t get a headache from watching it, but you will most likely fine early installments more satisfying. Better yet, rent Sarah, Plain and Tall.

Sarah, Plain and Tall was also a Hallmark Hall of Fame story. It starred Glenn Close as a woman in the 1880s who answers an ad to share a life on a Kansas farm. Nominated for nine Emmys, it entertained and moved. It was an intelligent made-for-TV movie.

For information about Phil Boatwright, go to moviereporter.com.

DEFINITIONS

Profanity – God’s name followed by a curse or the abusive use of Christ’s name

Obscenity – a swear word, indecent language

Expletive – minor curse words such as damn or hell

Crudity – vulgar, often coarse situations or dialogue dealing with bodily functions

Adult Subject Matter – situations or subjects unsuitable for or difficult to comprehend by children