A Harvest Homecoming

This one was actually produced by GAF, not acquired from an independent studio. So we have shirts buttoned up to the top with no troublesome decolletage or hints that two adults might be having extra marital sex, or relationships based of deceit and lies that generated so much unhappiness and feelings of betrayal in some of their loyal viewership. We had meal time prayer, references to faith and God and blessings. And, by Golly, we had leaves.

I have never seen so many fake decorative leaves in all of my life. Leaves of every shade of orange or red imaginable. Stringed up everywhere. Twinkling. On the eaves, on the window sills, wound around fence posts, gates, rails, in wreaths, pasted to walls (indoor and outdoor), on tables and every other surface. Even at the school, the barn, and in every room. It was hilarious. GAF must have raided every Hobby Lobby in Canada. I can only imagine the behind the scenes convos that broke out between the professional set decorators and the powers that be.

MORE leaves??!!! But....

YES! YES! YES! MORE MORE MORE!

But this is an Apple Orchard! How about a few Apples?

NO! Apples don't say Fall, Autumn or Harvest! Our viewers need more leaves, not more Apples!

I think the final autumn overload was the revenge of the Set Decorators.

I have never been so distracted by a movie set's decor as with this movie. The movie was actually.good, but all I kept saying was, who in the world was.the set Director.

Not sure how to gently put it, but it was so gawdy, it took away from the movie...so.glad I was not.the only.one distracted.by the horrible.sets.

There were.leaves and.lights in the Living room, bedroom, the new apartment, front.of.the house, side of the house, festival, everywhere. It made it look like a low budget movie. The set Director just said, I'll buy all these leaves in bulk and use it all Through the movie.

You should.re.do it.

Love Jessica Lowndes and Trevor Donovan. On the positive side, the movie storyline was great and so was the supporting cast. On the negative side, Trevor Donovan, while one of my favorite actors, does not have a pleasant singling voice , It was painful to hear him sing. Unfortunately, they did not use Jessica Lowndes to sing as her voice is wonderful.

Overall, the movie was beautiful. Really loved the supporting cast. The grandfather was a hoot. The parents demonstrated a loving, long lasting relationship. The sister was memorable. Enjoyed the minor God references. The scenery was beautiful.

Highly recommend.

The best way to watch this movie is on an old black and white tv so you don't get a two hour overdose of orange. From the start there was too much autumn decorating inside and outside The fast forward button helps get through this very routine movie which has the low point at the proper time. From there is has the things working out for the happy ending in the usual last few minutes. The use of the mute button can help get through the music and very fake dancing. The whole fishing pond scene looked like a picture background on a stage set. With nothing moving in the background of the fishing scene it looked like they turned on a fan to make the close plants move a little to end the scene. This is one to write down the title for the don't watch again note book. . .

Great American Family is trying hard to compete with Hallmark, but these movies continually look cheap and cut obvious corners. As other reviewers have pointed out, the leaf decor is over the top and ridiculous. No pumpkins or hay bales, and not one apple in sight -- at an apple orchard! Also, there's no character development and the story is too simple to stretch into a full-length feature. Where had Jessica Lowndes and her son been living before coming to Chestnut Hollow? What happened to her kid's father? Is he in the picture? Who is her best friend who drops by occasionally? How did this orchard stay in business without obvious things like a petting zoo and a maze? And isn't Trevor Donovan at 40 a little old to still be searching for a permanent life? GAF is certainly a player in these types of movies, but so far Hallmark continues to eat their lunch.