The Hired Heart

You should have seen this script before the director messed it up. It was originally under option at 20th Century Fox for a feature film. The director had no sense of humor and was completely oblivious to small town western life and it still turned out pretty good. Grahm Green's part as "Keith" was hysterical and much larger in the script. Most of his part got edited out by the director and that was after he agreed to do the part for much less money than he usually gets. If David Lestor, the original producer scheduled would have filmed the work, it would have been 1997's "Sleepless in Seattle". As it was, it did the best numbers Lifetime had seen for an original movie to that point. It could have been so much more with another director!

Brett Cullen is perfect as a charming dream guy in this movie.

If ONLY THE LONELY is the perfect lonely guy movie, THE HIRED HEART is a great lonely gal movie.

I am kind of surprised watching the LIFETIME channel. OLDEST BRIDESMAID had a lady lawyer out of touch with her emotions, BITTER BLOOD had a child killing housewife, and THE HIRED HEART had a lady MD with weird psychological problems. Keith Carradine, Brian Wimmer, Brett Cullen... the leading man is kind and nice. It just seems odd that these are the stories selected for a women's network.

Penelope Ann Miller is excellent in the part of a small town country doctor. I just loved the storyline and also the guy who fell in love with her. They were so well matched. I particularly liked this movie because it did not contain violence. It was about love between two people and also the funny parts of their relationship. The movie held my interest to the very end. I don't want to say much more because I may give the story away, especially the ending, which I found very touching and heart warming. I cannot say enough about Penelope Ann Miller whom I consider a superb actress. She was absolutely delightful to watch in this movie which I thought was made just for her.

I think Brett Cullen has so much going for him. He should be in more leading man roles. He was also great in Something Borrowed Something Blue. He has played in many great films, but I wish he had bigger parts. He could carry the lead with no problem. Romantic comedies are my favorite and he is so good at them.

Relationships as depicted in cinema are so "perfect". Well, reality is different, very different. The plot of this movie forces us to stretch our imagination. But stretch it we do, as we watch the characters "bang up" against each other. The unlikely relationship strokes our curiosity and keeps us tuned in. This is not a classic. But it is a very enjoyable low budget Romance-Comedy that is very typical of LMN. I have seen it three times and still enjoy it. That it telling.