April Monroe is an up-and-coming superstar doctor at a big New York hospital, and things could not be more perfect. She's been falling head-over-heels for charming veterinarian Jesse, and th... Read allApril Monroe is an up-and-coming superstar doctor at a big New York hospital, and things could not be more perfect. She's been falling head-over-heels for charming veterinarian Jesse, and their relationship seems to be heading in the right direction except for one thing: Jesse is... Read allApril Monroe is an up-and-coming superstar doctor at a big New York hospital, and things could not be more perfect. She's been falling head-over-heels for charming veterinarian Jesse, and their relationship seems to be heading in the right direction except for one thing: Jesse is completely tight-lipped about his family. For their anniversary, Jesse gives April a surp... Read all
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April Monroe (Galadriel Stineman) is a doctor in her first job at a prominent New York hospital. She is naturally gregarious, but her boss pressures her for spending too much time with patients. She meets young veterinarian Jesse Hardin (Kevin Joy) through a couple of coincidences, and they immediately hit it off. However, April is puzzled because Jesse does not reveal much about himself.
Six months later, April and Jesse are still a thing. We meet April's sister, May (Mary McElree), who married an African American man, Rob (Jordon Crusoe). Jesse must postpone a planned trip with April because his brother, Levi (Travis James), is getting married. Jesse then discloses his family is Amish and that he left the Amish as a teenager after rumspringa for the English world. April goes with Jesse to the wedding and meets his widowed mother, Esther (Pamela Daly), and his younger sister, Rachel (Mercedes Marcial). She also meets Naomi Trotter (Summer Mastain), Jesse's former Amish girlfriend, who is now recently widowed.
The film follows April's reception by various members of Jesse's family and the Amish community and her responses to the positive and negative reactions to her relationship with Jesse. This is a romance movie, so it ends well.
The scenery is lovely. The buggies and clothing don't fit Lancaster County, so the location is elsewhere. There is some nuance among the Amish characters, which is good. The dynamics are easier to portray because Jesse was never baptized into the Amish church. There are some oddities--during the wedding ceremony of Jesse's brother, the congregation did not look at the couple but stared straight ahead. Some of the vocal liberties that Esther and Naomi take are un-Amish. Most Amish accept English doctors but do like natural medicine when possible. However, generally, the film gave the Amish more personality than is usual in Amish movies.
The script was somewhat predictable, though some characters made artificially quick decisions to create the appropriate climax.
This movie is so much better! I liked the script and the setting, and the leads were genuinely nice people throughout.
I found it amusing that there were no kisses during the movie between the leads, even though they were in love and had been dating for 6 months. No kisses allowed in these romance movies until the very end! It's a rule, I guess.
The Amish family was initially divided in their acceptance of April, as was expected, but everything turned out good in the end. No villains left. There was love and forgiveness. A sweet movie.
I didn't care for the two main lovers in the slightest. I actually focused more on the main character's two siblings Levi and Rachel - they had a lot of spunk and were interesting to watch.
The fact that this Doctor ends up diagnosing the two women who dislike her the most (Naomi and Esther), anyone can see that from a mile away.
A sharper focus on Jesse's father or Jesse's prior relationship with Naomi may have given the film more life. Ultimately I thought the story was stagnant and mundane.
Did you know
- TriviaGaladriel Stineman and Kevin Joy are married to each other in real life.
- GoofsWhen a doctor is needed because the girl is have an appendix issue, they all stare around blankly. That is the not the case in most Amish communities. They will go to the nearest Mennonite home or English home to use a phone to call for help. And in many Amish communities they have set up a community kiosk where a phone is kept to call for emergencies.
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- Un extraño en la boda de mi hermano
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- Arkansas, USA(Main Location)
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- $800,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 26 minutes
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