First of all, I'm a fan of Jana Kramer. In this movie she had to portray a range of emotions that she never had the opportunity to do before, or perhaps, since. She can act if given the right vehicle. This is one of those, focusing on Christian values of spousal and filial love, family, marriage and 2 others that many reviewers here failed to grasp, owning up and being responsible for, one's wrong actions, and forgiveness. That Faith (Kramer) loved, and still loves, her husband, is a given; yet she cannot seem to come to terms with the fact that he had been lying to her as to the source of their income. Her father, Calvin (McRaney), knew this. With Faith he was patient and kind and forgiving. And he wanted someone with a strong moral compass to be the man for his daughter. So he went out of his way to see the husband, Luke (Wayne), and talk sense into him. The terms of the plea bargain Luke voluntarily entered into were clear; he admitted to a felony charge-although he was adamant that he had no part in his firm's criminal activities, he knew of it and turned a blind eye- and at the same time would be a witness for the prosecution and thus in return was given leniency, but not immunity. That is an important aspect of the US criminal justice system. Luke loved Faith. He was loyal and faithful to her. And because of love, Faith forgave him. That's what family, and a husband and a wife do. Forgive each other.
Many reviewers seemed to find Luke morally deficient, but the doctor-friend Lee (Sipos), upright in that regard. How could you be when you start to make a move on a still-married woman whose marriage is in trouble and who you know is at that moment very vulnerable-in Calvin's words, "on thin ice."? Yet because Faith and Luke reunited they find the script somehow faulty, where simple common sense would tell you that having Faith be with the doctor at that point would actually be infidelity. Such views are lamentable but not really surprising, given the shallow, salacious, scandal and celebrity gossip-fueled, and often banal fare available on TV.
This movie still manages to convey its points and messages, considering its obvious constraints, primarily of budget and time. This is a labor of love for Gerald McRaney, and a scrutiny of the talents of Jana Kramer. The supporting cast is also good, especially Faith's sister Olivia (Hawthorne). It was pleasantly surprising to see Sydney Penny (the girl Megan in Eastwood's Pale Rider and here a co-producer) in a cameo. As it is, I give it a solid 8+.
Many reviewers seemed to find Luke morally deficient, but the doctor-friend Lee (Sipos), upright in that regard. How could you be when you start to make a move on a still-married woman whose marriage is in trouble and who you know is at that moment very vulnerable-in Calvin's words, "on thin ice."? Yet because Faith and Luke reunited they find the script somehow faulty, where simple common sense would tell you that having Faith be with the doctor at that point would actually be infidelity. Such views are lamentable but not really surprising, given the shallow, salacious, scandal and celebrity gossip-fueled, and often banal fare available on TV.
This movie still manages to convey its points and messages, considering its obvious constraints, primarily of budget and time. This is a labor of love for Gerald McRaney, and a scrutiny of the talents of Jana Kramer. The supporting cast is also good, especially Faith's sister Olivia (Hawthorne). It was pleasantly surprising to see Sydney Penny (the girl Megan in Eastwood's Pale Rider and here a co-producer) in a cameo. As it is, I give it a solid 8+.