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Flash Movie Review: A Million Miles Away
AT THE SAME TIME, I WAS getting certified to teach aerobics, there was a guy going through the process. Back then in the aerobic world, men were in the minority. Before the session started, he and I struck up a conversation. He told me he planned on flying through the testing so he could start teaching immediately at one of the most exclusive health clubs in the city. I congratulated him, though I was thinking he could be setting himself up for a big disappointment. The reason I felt this was because in one of our earlier sessions, I saw him struggling with one of the exercises we were practicing. I asked him how long he had been taking aerobic classes and he said he only had participated in a few classes. It took everything I had to keep the expression on my face from turning into a look of shock. I was curious, so asked him what motivated him to become a fitness instructor. He said he saw a movie a few years prior, where some of the scenes were held in a fitness studio, and he decided that was what he wanted to do. He thought about it all the time, he said. When I asked him why he thought he would quickly get through the testing process, he said it was because he was always good in gym. I, ON THE OTHER HAND, WAS nervous about the testing process because I had difficulty coming up with spontaneous moves. I knew myself well enough where I had to plan out every move, I was going to teach the class. After consistently being a participant in aerobic classes for a few years, I decided being a fitness instructor would be something I would enjoy doing. It would not only be a source of income, but it would also keep me on track from putting on any weight. The workbook that I received in the mail prior to the certification date was worn and dogeared in several places where I had to go over the information a few times before I felt comfortable understanding it. The facilitator walked into the conference room; the two of us stopped talking. We were each going to take a turn to teach everyone in the room an aerobic routine for five to six minutes. I struggled when the guy next to me was taking his turn; I was not the only one. He had a hard time staying on the beat of the music, which kept throwing participants off. Also, he was doing his movements so fast that he never fully extended himself; so, his moves came off looking jerky without purpose. I could only assume he would not get high marks for his presentation. Maybe if he had studied and practiced, he could have done better. Too bad this film was not out back then, because it would have shown him what was needed to achieve a dream. AS A FARM WORKER, ALL JOSE, played by Michael Pena (Fantasy Island, End of Watch), could think about was becoming an astronaut one day. No one really took him seriously. With Rosa Salazar (Maze Runner franchise, Chariot) as Adela, Julio Cesar Cedillo (Cowboys & Aliens, The Harder They Fall) as Salvador, Veronica Falcon (Jungle Cruise, Queen of the South-TV) as Julia and Garret Dillahunt (12 Years a Slave, No Country for Old Men) as Sturckow; this dramatic biography was a real feel-good movie. Inspired by a true story, I thought Michael Pena did a wonderful job as Jose. Also, I thought the chemistry between him and Rosa as Adela was so authentic that it felt like reality. The story is incredible and though there could easily be more layers to the story, I was okay in how the director and writers chose to tell it. I thought the pacing was steady throughout and as the story was unfolding, I found myself rooting more and more for Jose. This movie was in a way a dream come true; I was glad I chose to see it and was rewarded with a wonderful story.
3 ¼ stars
Flash Movie Review: Golda
WHILE EATING BREAKFAST, I WAS LISTENING to the news about the recent passing of a celebrity actress. She starred in a television sitcom back in the 1970s. I knew of her, but never really followed her career. What surprised me about the news was the fact she was fired from the TV show because she demanded equal pay, to match the male star of the show. I was not surprised that she was being paid a lesser amount to her male counterpart; but I was surprised that she got fired because of the request. In this day of age, I could not imagine any company doing such a thing; but who knows, anything I guess is possible, no matter how wrong it may be. The reason I am bringing this up is because near the same time, the early 70s, there was a woman who was the leader of her country. I had to wonder if she was being paid less than any of the men who had been in that same role. If that was the case, then it really was a crime for the powers that be to do that to her, especially since she found herself fighting a war during her years of service. And not that I pay much attention to a person’s looks, but she did not look the part of a leader; she looked more like someone’s grandmother who is constantly trying to give you food whenever you are at her house. I HAVE TO ADMIT I HESITATED to write a review today of this movie because of the current state of world events. I wound up seeing this film the week before war broke out in the middle east. If I had reviewed this film sooner, then I would not have had to deal with the mixed feelings I have at present. But after much thought, I decided to go ahead because the two situations separated by decades seem to be in parallel. It is not my place to pass judgement or to spin my words to paint a better light on a political or religious event; all I wish to do is tell you what I thought about the movie. It is not my job to try and sway your thoughts and beliefs; I only want to provide you with my reaction to a picture without giving away any of the plot. My number one focus is whether the film entertained me. With that being said, let me tell you about this biographical drama. AT 71 YEARS OLD, MOST PEOPLE would be enjoying their retirement. However, for this woman she not only started a new career position, but she also had to do her job during a war. With Helen Mirren (The Duke, Shazam! Fury of the Gods) as Golda Meir, Zed Josef (Breaking Infinity, Milk and Honey: The Movie) as Adam Snir, Claudette Williams (The Colour of Spring, The Sons of Misteltoe) as Golda double, Henry Goldman (Taking Woodstock, The Damned United) as Chairman Agranat and Emma Davies (The People We Love to Hate at the Wedding, Holby City-TV) as Miss Epstein; this film’s top draw was Helen Mirren. I thought she was wonderful in the role. It was unfortunate the script did not support her. I thought it was skimpy on details that would have made this movie more entertaining. There were several good scenes, but I never felt connected to anyone in the cast. It almost seemed as if the writers wanted to give the viewers a quick overview without delving deep into the character and emotions of the individual. I found myself drifting at times as the scenes jumped from intense war strategies to chain smoking and baths. I am afraid this production did not do anything to match the amazing feat this woman endured during her lifetime.
2 ½ stars
Flash Movie Review: Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game
I WAS THE ONLY KID WHO was too afraid to dive off from the high diving board. On a large family trip, several cars of relatives drove to a resort area in a neighboring state. When we arrived at the hotel, all of us were assigned rooms on the same floor. Since it was still early in the afternoon, it was decided we would all meet at the swimming pool. I was a decent swimmer but had only recently ventured into deeper waters. The pool had two diving boards, one low and the other high, but the low one was being repaired. All my cousins were excited to go off the high dive, lining up single file to climb the metal ladder to the top. I tried doing it but when I got to the top and saw how far down it was to the water, I started to cry. Though relatives were encouraging me to jump, some even treading in the water below, I could not do it. I still remember how humiliated I felt as I climbed back down the ladder and walked past the line of cousins who were too excited to focus on my failure. After that I did not want to spend any more time by the swimming pool. ACROSS FROM THE SWIMMING POOL AREA, I had not noticed a small non-descript wooden structure that looked like a miniature house without windows. The relative who was taking me back to the hotel room, stopped at the front of this structure and asked me if I wanted to peek inside. It was such a curious building that I said yes. There was only an entryway, no door, so we walked in. What was inside was something I had never seen before. There was this machine with flashing lights. Its body had a glass top that covered an array of bumpers, buttons and holes. It fascinated me with its colorful graphics that stretched across both inside and out. My relative must have been familiar with the machine because they placed a chair they had taken from a corner, by the side of the machine and told me to stand on it, so I could watch them play. Once I was on it, my relative pulled back a metal rod and let go. I saw a silver ball whip up to the top of the course, bounce back and forth a couple of times, then descend into the array of bumpers and buttons. It was amazing, watching the ball bounce from one side to the other; and whenever the ball got near to the bottom, my relative would press these two red buttons on each side of the machine to smack the ball back up towards the top. This was my first encounter with a pinball machine, but it was not going to be my last. A STRUGGLING WRITER IN NEW YORK CITY finds escape in a pinball machine he found in an unlikely place. When the machine gets confiscated due to the ban on them, he puts his frustration into his writings. With Mike Faist (West Side Story, Wildling) as Roger (young), Crystal Reed (Incident in a Ghostland, Gotham-TV) as Ellen, Dennis Boutsikaris (Batteries not Included, Better Call Saul-TV) as Mr. Shapiro, Christopher Convery (The Girl in the Spider’s Web, Prisoner’s Daughter) as Seth and Connor Ratliff (Search Party-TV, The George Lucas Talk Show-TV) as Jimmy; this comedic drama hooked me in quickly after a short time figuring out if I was watching a documentary or not. I thought the way the writers told the story in this biography made it more interesting. As a lover of pinball machines, I appreciated the history lesson being told in such an entertaining way. Set in the 1970s, the sets and costumes were perfect. Maybe other viewers will feel the same way as I did to find out there was a time when pinball machines, of all things, used to be illegal. For me, it sounded so absurd, and it was another reason I wanted to see this movie. This film is certainly worth keeping in play.
3 ¼ stars
Flash Movie Trailer: Till
WHEN I WAS A SMALL BOY, I hated a bunch of things. Granted, most of them were food based. I hated tuna, broccoli, peas, grapefruit, and the school crossing guard who used to make fun of me. Back then the word “hate” was my go-to word; I did not fully comprehend how strong of a word was “hate.” It was nothing for two friends or neighborhood kids to tell the other they hated them for something they did or did not do. Whenever in a conversation with my friends about students in our classes or in school, it was not unusual for me to share my hatred of the students who wronged me in some way. My method of dealing with kids who I hated was to maintain my distance from them. I figured the less they saw of me the better off I would be. To be invisible, I had to make sure I never drew attention to myself; whether laughing or talking too loudly or spending too much time at my locker talking to a friend. The key was to keep moving with the flow of kids as much as possible. And the most important thing I had to make sure I was doing was to go right home from school, to never linger outside of the school’s exits in case a bully or antagonist was leaving the same time as me. THANKFULLY, THE SCHOOLS I ATTENDED DID an excellent job of teaching me all the aspects of “hate” and how strong of a word it could be. We saw and read examples of hatred, with the books we read, the movies we watched and the archived newspaper articles we viewed on microfilm. Seeing what humans did to other humans was frightening. Whether it was during a war or from a group or individual, I found all of it so disturbing and appalling that I realized I was using the word “hate” incorrectly. It became my goal to never or rarely use the word “hate” when I was saying or describing something to someone. To be honest with you, this promise was a challenge because I experienced forms of hatred early on in my schooling. Encountering people who hate you without even knowing or talking to you was so confusing to me. The trend continued when I finished school and found myself marching for causes that were important to me and witnessed hatred that was near flammable, it was so vile. Some of it was in the same vein as what was shown in this biographical crime drama. THOUGH THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI IS not that far from Chicago, Illinois; back in 1955 they were a world apart. Visiting his cousins in Mississippi required knowing how to act by Mississippi’s standards, something Emmett Till’s, played by Jalyn Hall (Bruiser, The App that Stole Christmas), mother knew all too well which explained her hesitation on letting him go. His trip would facilitate a change throughout the country. With Danielle Deadwyler (The Harder They Fall, The Devil to Pay) as Mamie Till-Mobley, Frankie Faison (Do the Right Thing, I’m Your Woman) as John Carthan, Haley Bennett (The Magnificent Seven, The Girl on the Train) as Carolyn Bryant and Whoopi Goldberg (Sister Act franchise, King of the Dancehall) as Alma Carthan; this film had a strong affect on me. Maybe because we are coming up to the anniversary date of Emmett’s date of death and the government just recently designating a national monument honoring him, I was glued to the story being depicted. Also, Danielle Deadwyler’s acting was outstanding and tragic at the same time, absolutely amazing. It was not easy watching several scenes in this movie; the amount of hate on display was startling and tragic. Everything came together, such as the sets, costumes, and direction to create a beautiful, sad movie about a mother’s worst nightmare.
3 ½ stars
Flash Movie Review: Oppenheimer
I BARELY UNDERSTOOD WHAT HER BOOK report was about, but I still enjoyed hearing her speak it. She was talking about cross-pollination and plants; I looked at the classmates within my field of vision to see if any of them looked like they understood what she was talking about. It was hard to tell. Some students were looking down at their desks, others were playing with their pens, twirling, or fidgeting with them. When she finished her report, the teacher commended her and said it was highly informative. I wondered, “For who?” I found it funny; because when talking to her, you would not necessarily know how smart she really was. I was friends with her and never felt like she was talking down to me or about topics and things that were complex and mystifying. She was like any of the other students in class. I knew she was a straight “A” student; I could not imagine her getting a lesser grade. Anytime we were together with our group of friends and there was a disagreement between a couple of them, she was the voice of reason. More times than not she was able to negotiate a compromise that both parties agreed to without feeling like they were getting cheated out of something. It was a skill I wished I could do. IT WAS NOT UNTIL I ENTERED the workforce that I discovered some super smart individuals were not nice people. At one of my first jobs, there was a man who claimed he was highly intelligent. I did not know, because he rarely talked to me; but I was able to hear him talking when he was near my area of the warehouse. To tell you the truth, I was glad he rarely spoke to me because he was arrogant with a mix of disdain. The way he would talk to employees was nauseating; talking to some like they were infants in this cloying, sadistic baby voice. If his claim of being so smart was true, then I could never understand why he wound up in sales. Not to say there was anything wrong with sales; but I would have thought he would have done something different for a profession. He may have been the first I encountered in my work history, but he was not the last. I met several people who possessed a high intellect. A few appeared to be on the spectrum; others had no sense of humor. There was a wide variety of individuals and characteristics. I appreciated the ones who could talk about something that I was not familiar with but said it in such a way that made it easier to comprehend. From watching this dramatic biography, I would have been fascinated to listen to what the main character had to say. And it turns out it was a good thing people listened. DURING WORLD WAR II AN AMERICAN scientist was drawn into a secret project that could change the world forever. It was a huge responsibility. With Cillian Murphy (The Delinquent Season, Peaky Blinders-TV) as J. Robert Oppenheimer, Emily Blunt (Jungle Cruise, Mary Poppins Returns) as Kitty Oppenheimer, Matt Damon (Air, Ford v Ferrari) as Leslie Groves, Robert Downey Jr. (Dolittle, Iron Man franchise) as Lewis Strauss and Aiden Ehrenreich (Cocaine Bear, Solo: A Star Wars Story) as Senate Aide; this history driven film started out rough for me. Not being a fan of jumping back and forth in time, the first 30 minutes made me wonder what all the talk was about for this picture. But then, the script kicked into gear and the actors took their characters and soared with them. The acting, the filming, the direction and soundtrack were all outstanding. Knowing nothing about the story except for the main character’s name, I was fascinated with what was being depicted on the big screen. While I sat in the theater, the thought came across me that I was watching a great film. What a monumental moment in history and the director Christopher Nolan captured it perfectly.
3 ½ stars
Flash Movie Review: Wham!
WHEN I STARTED MY CAREER IN fitness, I did not have the goal to be the best in my field. On the contrary, I did not have the confidence to ever consider it. My hope was that no one would laugh at me. Now I did have a vision that kept me going; I wanted to create a safe space where everyone, no matter what their fitness level was, could be themselves and do their best while having a good time. Looking back at the classes I taught, I believe I achieved that goal. What I did not have was the drive to increase my exposure, such as working to be a fitness presenter at workshops and conversations. To do that, I would have had to collaborate with professionals in the fitness and medical worlds to create a presentation that was certified and safe. This would have taken up a good portion of my time that I did not want to give up. Seeing and getting to know some of the presenters, I realized I was not cut out to take on such an endeavor. The drive and motivation some of these individuals possessed was simply intense. It also included a strong sales personality which I absolutely did not have inside of me. MOST EVERYONE I MET IN THE fitness world achieved their level of skill from putting in challenging work. I cannot say they were all talented, except it usually was a necessity to have a sense of rhythm. It was not like they were born with the skills to lead a fitness class, unlike a singer or painter. The reason I say this is because there was a woman who had a gorgeous singing voice. Compared to her classmates, her singing ability was beyond anything the other students could achieve. Once you heard her sing, you would be convinced she would go far. Now, she had a dream of performing on Broadway, ever since she was a little girl. In school, there was never a school production that did not include her. The teachers realized they could not keep casting her as the lead, but they were reluctant to choose other students because they knew it would not be the same. Gratefully, they did give other students a chance at being the lead. She did not mind, but she always learned the score in case something happened, and they needed to find someone to fill in. Her dedication was commendable, and it paid off because right after college, she was cast in a Broadway musical. She was in the ensemble but was the understudy for one of the female leads. BECOMING FRIENDS IN SCHOOL, GEORGE MICHAEL and Andrew Ridgeley both had a love for music and decided they wanted to become the biggest pop stars in the world. They had stiff competition with Elton John, Tina Turner, Prince, and Whitney Houston. Directed by Chris Smith (American Movie, Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond); this music documentary was not only enjoyable to watch, but it provided me a flashback of a different era with some incredible music. With interviews and archival footage, I had no idea how devoted the two friends were to their craft and dreams. Whenever I watch a documentary about a well-known celebrity, it is a real treat for me to get the back story to that person’s famous contributions. I loved hearing how the two created their songs, besides getting insight into their insecurities and fears. This biography’s primary focus was the years Wham was in existence; it does not follow George and Andrew as they go their separate ways. I would have appreciated getting a deeper picture of their internal dramas, both at home and in business. It would have been interesting to see what the boys were doing prior to becoming friends. However, the lack of this did not deter me from enjoying watching and reliving the music they created. If you are not a fan of this group, then you will not care to see this biography. But if you are, then this film can put you in a happy place before you must go go.
3 ¼ stars
Flash Movie Review: Flamin’ Hot
MY ONLY THOUGHT WAS THE GENTLEMAN sitting across from me was given something different to eat than me. The way he carried on with the potato chips, you would have thought they were the best thing the planet had ever seen. I thought he was nuts or had lost all sense of taste, because that was nowhere near my reaction to taste testing the chips. I was chosen for a study group that was doing a blind tasting of various potato chips. Truthfully, I would have rather been picked to taste test desserts, but I was grateful nonetheless because the stipend was a good amount of money, and I was eating a carbohydrate. There were twelve of us sitting around a conference table. Placed in front of each seat were three plastic containers that each contained potato chips. They looked the same to me, but I could tell there was a slight difference in color and texture between them. We were trying the second container and I thought they were horrible, having a medicinal processed taste. They also had a weak crunch which was a big minus for me. When we then had to go around and tell the group our reaction, the man across from me was raving about them. Honestly, they turned out to be the worst ones in my opinion. Many of the participants thought the same thing as I did. I WAS AWARE THAT PEOPLE’S TASTE buds were different. Each of us can taste bitter, sweet and sour; but the number of receptors we have is different. I remember New Coke debuted with big fanfare. I did not like it at all; and as it turned out, there were many other people who disliked it as well. Because of that misstep, I have become more curious about the reasoning behind the introduction of new flavors. The first thing that comes to mind is the explosion of pumpkin spice during the Halloween season. This flavor has been attached to so many different food items, that just sound ghastly to me. There is cereal, cookies, coffee, which I can wrap my head around. However, sauces, cheese or soft drinks sounds disgusting. I just want to know how that idea came out of a marketing group or department. It seems to me some food items are better left untouched. I do not want potato chips tasting like pizza or macaroni and cheese. Regarding the flavor being introduced in this biographical drama, I have a close friend who can live on them; I would have to be hospitalized, way too hot for me. A JANITOR AT A FRITO LAY plant in fear of layoffs, believes he found a way to save jobs and honor his Mexican heritage. However, none of the managers believed him because he was a janitor. With Jesse Garcia (Ambulance, The Starling) as Richard Montanez, Annie Gonzalez (East of the Mountains, The Edge of Her Mind Anthology) as Judy Montanez, Emilio Rivera (The Family Business-TV, Mayans M.C-TV) as Vacho Montanez, Vanessa Martinez (Go for Sisters, Dirty John-TV) as Concha Montanez and Dennis Haysbert (Far From Heaven, Playing with Fire) as Clarence C. Baker; this film based on a true story was simply a feel good movie. I do not know how much of the film was based on actual events; however, the direction was perfectly executed to provide doses of drama, humor and sadness. Because I know people who are addicted to this product, I felt more connected to the story. Easily, the script could have used more intensity and explained the depth of people’s motives more; however, the premise of the story was so charming and fascinating that I stayed fully engaged with it. And honestly, by the end of the movie I wanted to attempt to eat one Flamin’ Hot Cheeto.
2 ½ stars
Flash Movie Review: Shooting Stars
I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO be a long day, but I needed the continuing education credits to renew my fitness certification. When I signed up, I could not believe we had to be ready to start at 7:30am. The end was set at 5pm, with forty-five minutes for lunch. The schedule started with a lecture, followed by a workshop, then another lecture before the lunchbreak. Gratefully, we were to have another lecture after lunch because I am not one who can eat and immediately afterwards exert myself physically. Trust me, it would not be a pretty sight. My hope was for the class to end early. When I walked into the hotel’s conference ballroom, I looked for an empty chair. As I was walking down the aisle, I heard my name being called out. Turning towards the sound I looked out and saw a friend of mine was waving me over to them. We taught at the same fitness center; but ironically, did not see much of each other during working hours because I taught night classes, and she did day ones. However, we still formed a bond because we started at the same time and hit it off immediately. Whenever we had a staff meeting, we would get together, just the two of us, before or after to catch up with one another. I was grateful and happy she was at this event. IT IS FUNNY HOW I WAS dreading the day, spending it cooped up in a hotel conference ballroom because now the time was flying by as the two of us kept each other company. During the workouts when the facilitator asked us to pair up, the two of us would do it together. Each of us had an easiness with the other, where nothing ever felt uncomfortable; even the “hands on” portions where we would either support a portion of the other’s body/limb or correct a position/alignment of muscle joints. Before I knew it, the lunch break arrived and the two of us found a secluded corner of the lobby where we could sit and eat in peace. With us talking and laughing the lunch break only seemed like it was a couple of minutes before we were due back in class. The lecture portion gave me the time to sit and digest my lunch; so, I was prepared for the final workout which was tough. We made it through to the end and hugged each other before we left. It was great seeing and participating with her; it made the day feel fun for me. And that is the reason I can see why the four friends in this biographical drama did not want to go it alone when it came to basketball. CHILDHOOD FRIENDS KNEW BY STICKING TOGETHER they could accomplish more on the court than if they went it alone. The truth was in the results. With newcomer Marquis Mookie Cook as LeBron James, Wood Harris (Creed franchise, Empire-TV) as Coach Dru Joyce II, Dermot Mulroney (My Best Friend’s Wedding, Scream VI) as Keith Dambrot, Caleb McLaughlin (Concrete Cowboy, Stranger Things-TV) as Lil Dru Joyce III and Natalie Paul (Either Side of Midnight, The Prophecy-TV) as Gloria James; this story based on true events surprised me because I did not know LeBron’s history. I found the script was fun and the basketball playing scenes were exciting. Whether the events shown were true or not, I did not know; but my interest was kept throughout the movie. With that being said, there was not much variance in the drama, nor was there anything different compared to other films in this genre. I do not consider myself a basketball fan; however, I know how the game is played and have seen a few. This was an easy, nothing out of the ordinary sports film that wound up providing me with a back story to a man I have only seen snippets of on television.
2 ¼ stars
Flash Movie Review: Dog Gone
IT IS TRUE WHAT THEY SAY about you learning about someone based on how they treat their pet. I had a friend who had a wonderful relationship with their dog. Time was always set aside for the two of them to have quality time together. The dog grew up being such a loving creature, who always wanted to be in whatever room you were in. I dog sat for them over a weekend and the dog showed me unconditional love. If I was sitting on the sofa watching television, he would jump up and plop himself down next to me, resting his head on my leg. He had several toys he loved to either play with or gnaw on. The first time I watched my friend tell the dog to go get a specific toy, I was stunned when the dog came back with that toy in his mouth. I could not wait to try it when I babysat him. After taking an inventory of what toys were out, I told the dog to go get his carrot. Off he ran and in a matter of seconds he returned with the carrot sticking out of his mouth. I asked for a couple of other toys then we spent the time playing with them; me tossing them and him racing to get them to bring back to me. I HAVE BEEN AROUND SOME DOG owners who were not nice people; their dogs were a direct reflection of them. There was one owner who only wanted a dog to “guard” the house. Not that they did any training for it, the owner felt any robber who heard the dog barking would leave the property alone. There was a neighbor in my building who was not friendly, with no personality. His two dogs seemed to have the same temperament; all they would do is bark at you. Whether riding down the elevator or crossing their path outside, they just barked and yapped. In summer, the neighbor used to leave the dogs outside on the balcony; but, after other residences complained about the constant barking, the owner had to bring the dogs inside. During my dating years, I quickly got a feel about the person if they had a pet. Dogs can be such a great example of unconditional love and in turn, teach their owners how to express it. If you care to see how relationships grow when there is a pet involved, then feel free to view this biographical, family drama film. WHEN HIS SON’S DOG GOES MISSING, a father reluctantly joins his son in a search along the Appalachian trail. Their hiking would reveal more than the beautiful scenery. With Rob Lowe (How to Be a Latin Lover, Wayne’s World) as John Marshall, Johnny Berchtold (Snow Falls, Life as a Mermaid-TV) as Fielding Marshall, Kimberly Williams-Paisley (We are Marshall, Father of the Bride franchise) as Ginny Marshall, Nick Peine (Office Christmas Party, Just Getting Started) as Nate and newcomer Savannah Bruffey as Peyton Marshall; this movie based on a true story was predictable and a bit cheesy. The production seemed amateurish and low cost, while the acting was just okay. However, it was hard not to like the story line and fall in love with the dog. The script was filled with emotions though I wished they had been portrayed in a better way. Now if one is not a dog lover, they probably will get bored watching this picture. For those who are pet owners, there is a good chance their hearts will be touched by various scenes. I especially enjoyed seeing the people associated with the production of this film and their pets during the ending credits. Overall, this was an easy movie viewing experience that showed how a dog can affect a family’s life.
2 stars
moviejoltz 