Guiding Emily

This is a story of a healthy, energetic, athletic business woman who loses her sight and what happens afterwards that brings back joy to her life.

I saw the adds on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, and wanted to watch this movie. I expected that it would be uplifting, and it was. I expected there would be a love story, and there were several.

After I watched the movie, I was surprised to see that Eric McCormack ( Will from Will & Grace ) was listed as starring in it. I did not remember seeing him in it at all, and used a lot of time trying to figure out which face was his. Perhaps you will figure out right away.

I spent the beginning of the movies nervous because I didn't know when she would lose her sight, and how it would happen. Once that part was over, I could enjoy the movie.

Sarah Drew did a great job of portraying Emily. Emily is a very likeable character, and we can empathize as she goes through the trauma of losing her sight and having her world change forever.

Toby Levins is very good as Emily's fiancee Conner. He is very business focused too, and loves Emily. He tries to cope with her new reality, and be helpful and supportive. Like a real human, Conner makes some big mistakes that make the story more realistic and interesting.

The friends and co-works of Emily are a big part of the story. Everyone should have caring people like them in their lives.

About the dog... this is a separate but intertwined story. It is a bit Disney, and surprising, and fun.

The love stories... Love between Emily and her friends and coworkers, the dog's love of food and learning and Emily, a little romance...

Watch it and find out.

Firstly there's a dog in this film.

Secondly Sarah and Antonio are wonderful together. To be fair I like both actors anyway but in this I Felt their friendship immediately and willed their romance on from the beginning. It's a sweet sweet tale, a decent offering from Hallmark after quite few recent duds. Made me feel happy start to finish and actually could have done with being a bit longer. A few mentions: Matty Finochio and Peter Benson were great in their roles as support actors also.

Thirdly in case I hadn't made it clear there's a dog in this film. Not enough of him but still enough to make me smile.

It might be helpful to know from the start that this is a movie where we hear the dog's thoughts. It's done well. This dog, Garth, is drawn to Emily immediately when he meets her while still a puppy long before he is trained.

The story of Emily and Garth's journey together does not fill as much of the movie as I expected.

Sarah Drew! This is another Hallmark movie where she so dominates the story. There is a man-woman romance (as different from woman-dog romance), but it really wasn't the main story. The story is about Emily being knocked down, giving up, and the getting back up again thanks to friends who verbally knocked some sense into her. It is a great story which is only made better by Drew. She is always so expressive and energetic.

First, a note of surprise... Hallmark must have had a change of creative management recently as suddenly their movies are way more original, creative, fun and believable than so much of what they have produced in the past. This is perhaps the third totally enjoyable movie of theirs I have seen lately.

In Guiding Emily - first a huge kudo to the acting, especially Sarah Drew. Her acting is superb and she goes through every emotion in the book in this movie. Not just Sarah Drew but every actor did a superb and believable job.

Second, while the story could have been a tear-jerker and way dramatic, Hallmark kept this to a minimum and instead focused on Emily's development after becoming blind. And, interweaving the story of Emily along with the story of the dog from a puppy up to adult size was brilliant.

Hallmark, please provide more entertainment like this and will someone please give Sarah Drew an Emmy or similar award for her work on this.

'Guiding Emily' is a film that will resonate with anyone who has completely or partially lost their sight, or someone having to deal with a loved one losing their sight.

Sarah Drew stars as the adventurous Emily, who loses her sight after a hiking accident. Her fiancée Connor (Toby Levins) is comforting and supportive at first, but when he realizes he would have to adapt to an entirely different lifestyle with a blind woman as his wife - and having received a job offer he can't refuse - Connor has second thoughts. This and the fact Emily now needs guidance, leaves her distraught.

But 'Guiding Emily' isn't a somber, pity movie. It is uplifting, and there are many funny moments. Many of these humorist moments are provided by the absolutely adorable dog, Garth - a Labrador guide dog. Much of the film is also told from the dog's perspective.

The film proves just how easy it is for sighted people to take sight for granted. After all, our eyes are the windows to the world. And we so seldom even consider the possibility of vision being taken away from us in a matter of seconds. With the loss of one sense, though, the other senses become more dominant - such as the sense of smell and touch.

'Guiding Emily' is a feel-good movie with good performances and a good script. It never gets too emotional and despite a few dramatic moments here and there, it remains lighthearted enough throughout so you don't need a box of tissues. Then again, Garth's cuteness might also stir happy emotion, so yeah, maybe its best to keep those tissues handy!!

The film also teaches us not to be too depressed when things go wrong. Sometimes things happen for a reason, and just maybe fate has a funny way of showing you the way to a better life...