Big Sky River

A solid, realistic story with great acting, and believable chemistry between the leads. Predictable ending but an enjoyable watch! Wish Hallmark didn't add in the awkward dance scene. These seem to be written into every Hallmark movie and this one, like most of those in other Hallmark movies, includes dancing that seems out of step with the background music and just uncomfortable to watch.

I've read several of Linda Lael Miller's books and had high hopes for this one. If Vaugier had been able to show the same depth of emotion in her scenes with Smith as she did with her step-daughter, or the two sons of Smith's character, I'd have added a couple more stars.

When Vaugier and Smith are alone in the scene, she's not doing much more than reciting lines. Not so with the child actors, who do quite well in this tale, especially their scenes with Vaugier, so I suspect there was something going on there between the actors.

There's enough general conflict and tension to keep up the pace. The scenery could have been developed a bit more, but other than that slight nit-picky comment, the production values are good.

I have mixed feelings about this film...but I want to start by saying I loved the lead actors and their supporting cast...I also loved the setting (fake Montana) and I appreciated that they had the big city New Yorker be a great horse rider who dresses appropriately and isn't afraid of animals or hard work (aka fits in), instead of going the fish out of water trope. My difficulties lie in the story content itself...

For me hallmark movies are entertainment not "real life", I have enough of real life in the real world...I watch hallmark to escape all of that. Which is why I am not sure that I appreciate Hallmark's attempt to make the story more "life like" by adding all the baggage. It's either that or trying to normalize bitter divorces and traumatized kids. If we could choose what we wanted...who would choose to go through a bitter divorce and have traumatized children running away and screaming out for love and attention. We get to choose the movies that we watch and I think Hallmark is making a mistake going this route. I am not in denial that 50% of marriages are ending in divorce these days...but if you are going through a messy divorce is this what you are going to want to watch? Or would you prefer the fairytale where for a couple of hours you can fantasize that peoples' dreams really come true? Also...has everyone just thrown in the towel and accepted that 50% of marriages end in divorce? How about movies that show people fighting for their marriages and doing the hard work that it takes to stay married for a lifetime? Now that would be some real life entertainment that people really need and could use.

Ok, stepping off the soapbox and getting back to this film...Vancouver, B. C. native Emmanuelle Vaugier who played the female lead was fantastic. She is lovely and did a solid acting job. Kavan Smith who played the male romantic lead also put in a solid performance. To be honest, I am not sure I really felt the chemistry between these two...but they are both such good actors you really didn't notice (the last kiss with the hat removal was probably the biggest tell in the whole film).

I understand that the source material is a Linda Lael Miller book which had the two not getting along initially, it's kind of too bad they didn't go that route because I love a good hate to love romance...but I understand with all the baggage that they had to deal with in the film why they went this route instead.

Also, I am really starting to feel sorry for Peter Benson (another solid Hallmark actor), he has been having to play a less than white knight lately and is probably itching to be more hero than anti-hero.

One of the sadder hallmark offerings due to the subject matter...but it is in a gorgeous setting. If you like kids and divorcee/widower romances this might be the film for you.

I truly enjoyed this movie. It moved fluidly and the stars did a fine job bringing the movie to life. This is one of Hallmark's best movies. My only comment was with Kavan Smith's horseback ride. Cowboys don't post in the saddle. Emmanuelle Vaugier really knows how to ride. It was a treat to have female stars that didn't squeal like teenage girls the way they do in so many Hallmark Movies. It was a pleasure to watch this movie and have mature actors. The children in the movie were also quite good.

All in all with the beautiful setting the music and the actors and actresses it was a satisfying entry.

It wouldn't have been a movie but I kept wondering why, when she came into her step-daughter's life at least 10-12 years ago, she hadn't adopted her. But then I guess most of the drama would have to be explained in another way.