Unexpected Grace

This is a Hallmark movie, as such it is clean and the "Hallmark Kiss" comes during the last minute of the movie. My wife and I watched it streaming on Amazon Prime and think it is one of the better Hallmark movies we have watched.

I fell in love with Erica Durance when she was Lois Lane on the old Smallville series that came on air almost 20 years ago. She is still lovely and an even better actress now. Here she is Noelle, a college professor, that had lost her teenage daughter almost two years earlier, plus she and her husband appear to be headed for divorce.

Michael Rady is Jack, he had lost his wife and moved with his teenage daughter to a new town for a job as a construction chief.

Erica Tremblay is his daughter Grace, she finds a deflated balloon in their tree, it had been sent two years earlier by Noelle's now deceased daughter Toni, the thrust of the message attached was looking for a friend. So through a process that played out over time Noelle, Jack, and Grace became friends, and things developed from there.

Good script and good actors, all add up to a fine movie.

Wasn't sure whether I would like this one but gave it a shot and glad I did! After the wedding veil second trilogy, the new year movies have been such a disappointment with bad plots and bad acting. This one broke the streak and was heartwarming with great acting. There's lots of gaps in the story and it really is a mystery of what will happen next. Adults and kids with grief, finding a glimmer of hope, only for it to be taken away, and then left to decide what will be the next step. All the characters saw "signs" from loved ones no longer here and then needed to make their own path, take control of their future, and decide what they want to do and how they would make their lives and the world better. I loved this message and how it wasn't all about fate or destiny telling you what to do but it brought everyone to a crossroad and they made the choice of moving forward and celebrating their loved ones rather than be burdened by their loss. Other than the one jealous bratty teen, there were no "villains" and this was very refreshing. It was a bit slow and the first 20 min felt like an hour and you want to scream just tell them the whole truth! But would you actually do that in that situation? Probably not. It was realistic, beautifully told, and I hope more movies are just as heartwarming!

I am not sure one could adequately review this movie without including "spoilers". Thus said, I do feel it deserves to be recognized with, at least, some comments.

Recent Hallmark productions have taught me to markedly lower my expectations and it is a pleasant surprise to find that somebody there has not lost the touch.

This film deals with losses and grief with straightforward simplicity and honest emotions, devoid of intrusive messages or added intentions. There are no petty rivalries, nor abusive personalities to create drama. Good people sharing similar pain are brought together finding hope and healing. All is delivered with gentleness, grace, and moving credibility.

Erica Durance is emerging as a top star for Hallmark serious productions and, once more, does not fail in her role. Michael Rady is at his best and the young Erica Tremble, whom I remember from a few previous appearances, delivers a mature, convincing performance.

In the, regretfully rare, instances where people at Hallmark are able to focus , and keep their attention, on valid objectives, they can still create family entertainment with real value.

7.7 stars.

This is the story of a woman named Noelle who loses her 14 year old daughter Maya, we don't know how, but it's probably cancer. A man named Jack comes to town with his young daughter Grace, and they find something in their tree that was left behind from Maya, and that something is a letter written to the world and attached to a balloon. Jack and Noelle almost run into each other twice not realizing Grace has Maya's lost letter. Eventually the coincidence connections are realized. Noelle does not believe in coincidence. The letter transforms Grace's life and soon Jack and Noelle grow fond of each other. The story goes deeper and deeper into their relationship as they all are still healing the loss of Maya and Jack's wife too, who also died some years ago. It's a very touching movie mainly about recovering from pain and sadness on losing a loved one. Noelle's ex-husband is still having a hard time getting over the loss of their daughter, and coincidentally meets Jack in another city, and there are too many coincidences in this film. I recommend it.

Great acting and heartwarming scenes make this a must see tearful and 'Unexpected Grace'.

I watch a lot of Hallmark movies, but I don't write many reviews; however, this movie is extremely special.

This script was layered, authentic, beautiful, moving, and understated in the best way possible. With this type of script, the casting was very important. Luckily, they were able to get Michael Rady, Erica Durance, and David Attar, who all poured their hearts into their performances.

Unlike most Hallmark movies, this wasn't a straight forward romance story, this was a human connection story.

This movie was filled with mature and thoughtful conversations. Characters listened to understand, instead of simply listening to react. There were a lot of ways that this script could have gone off the rails, but it didn't. Each decision, while making this film, was obviously done with a lot of care and concern for the audience.