Civil Love

As soon as I started watching this movie,instantly I recognized the plot. This is a christian,PG version of a tv classic movie "The Outsider" 2002.... Without the sex scenes and with two kids instead of one.

I don't agree with other reviews,it was good enough,nothing stellar but good enough for tv.

I agree that the discrepancies un the wardrope was terrible,they shouldve consult some books on the era they were going to recreate. Same with the buildings been so new,unrealistic.

The male lead acting was good and he is handsome. The female lead was good for what it is,not terrible in my opinion.

I found this by searching for Jeannette Oaks movies. Hallmark did such a good job with the Love Comes Softly series, but you are right this one's a dud. I gave it a good 16 minutes, though. Couldn't take a second more.

I liked the story idea but the writing needed work, along with wardrobe, settings and the performances. It felt like an early rehearsal and the director was providing instructions. When the daughter walked over to her brother and sat behind him and protectively put her arms around him, I could hear "now go behind your brother and put your arms around him" "like this?" "Okay good". The dishes, cutlery, food and everything else handled by the actors were screaming props. I wasn't brought into that world. Always reminded that it's a stage and lines are bring read. Sorry for this review, just sad that it was like this. I think it had potential and I wanted to like it.

Simply everything about this film is terrible. The acting, the directing, the camerawork - even the sets and costumes are terrible. The costumes are bizarrely perfect and clean. The roads are flat. The makeup is clearly modern with a shocking lack of the kinds of dirty hair and faces, rough hands, and dirty fingernails you would expect to see in those people.Even the buildings are astoundingly pristine with fresh-cut wood, perfectly square walls, doorways, etc., fresh paint - with VERY few exceptions. Even the tack and saddle blankets for the horses are nice and new - perfect.

Life was rough at that time/place and almost NOTHING was clean and pristine. I understand not blacking and staining teeth for authenticity. In modern times, that would distract us and look ridiculous. But the perfect and spotless costumes? And EVERYONE having very clean hair in the winter in those days? Do the filmmakers have ANY clue how much work it was to bathe in those conditions? C'mon!

As for the acting, what can I say? It's... it's ghastly. The actors' lines are recited like they are being read by the actors for the second time. Ever. The acting is absolutely terrible and it's painful to watch. I really wanted to like this. I watched it with my 87 y.o. dad, and even HE had these observations. "Don't these filmmakers know the people were dirty, the clothes were worn and stained, and the roads were full of ruts and holes? He's 98 and he observed that. Astounding.

The story was weak, but I'll say this - it was the least terrible thing about this absolutely ghastly film.

The film is awful, awful, awful. Watch that paint dry. Or count the loops in your carpet. Either one would be much more rewarding.

I can understand the storyline and am 1/2 the way through watching this. But the poor quality acting is making it difficult to get to the end. I don't think I can finish this, as I stare at the pause half way through the film. Yes, it's that bad. I'm sorry - not usually this harsh on a movie. The story is predictable and it would be endurable if not for the lack in quality acting.