The Russell Girl

MOVIE REVIEW

The Russell Girl:
Hallmark Hall of Fame Movie starring Amber Tamblyn (General Hospital) and Jennifer Ehle (Pride and Prejudice)


CAST:

Amber Tamblyn ... Sarah Russell
Jennifer Ehle ... Lorainne Morrisey
Paul Wesley ... Evan Carroll
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio ... Gayle Russell
Tim DeKay ... Tim Russell
Daniel Clark ... Daniel Russell
Henry Czerny ... Howard Morrisey
Ben Lewis ... Jon Morrisey
Max Morrow ... Rick Morissey

PLOT:

from Hallmark-

Sarah Russell's (Amber Tamblyn) rare visit from Chicago to her small hometown is a welcome surprise to her parents (Mastrantonio and DeKay), her 21-year-old brother, Daniel (Daniel Clark), and her former boyfriend, Evan (Paul Wesley).

Sarah decides to withhold the true reason for her homecoming after an old conflict resurfaces during an uncomfortable encounter with Lorraine Morrisey (Ehle), who lives across the street from the Russells with her husband, Howard (Henry Czerny), and two teen-aged boys (Ben Lewis, Max Morrow).

Sarah's sudden presence has a debilitating effect on Lorraine, who rebuffs Sarah's attempts to make amends. However, Sarah musters the courage to keep trying, knowing that she must finally deal with her past as a means of being able to face her future. It takes time for Lorraine to put the past behind her and to grasp that forgiving Sarah will not only ease Sarah's burden but also her own.

Movie Review:

**SPOILER ALERT**

Hallmark should work out a deal with Puffs Kleenex.... it's another mysterious tearjerker. The movie is intriguing as you try to piece together Sarah Russell and (neighbor) Lorainne Morrisey mysterious actions. Eventually it is revealed that Sarah Russell used to babysit for the Morrisey children next door, and their baby girl accidentally fell down the basement steps to her death, while in Sarah's care.

Sarah and Lorainne learn to forgive themselves and each other... releasing their burden of guilt and helping one another, especially now since Sarah is facing her own illness, and is scared to tell her parents. Lorainne and Sarah, eventually, help each other heal through these tragic events and memories. This movie may be rather sad, but also very helpful to those who have lost a child or loved one.


See or Skip:

See, as it is a very moving film. Not suitable for children, but may be helpful to those who are grieving and those who are dealing with unforgiveness.

Nanny Mcphee

MOVIE REVIEW

Nanny Mcphee:
Disney Movie starring Colin Firth (Pride & Prejudice, What a Girl Wants, etc...), Emma Thompson (Sense & Sensibility, Much Ado About Nothing, etc...), and Angela Lansbury (Murder She Wrote, Mrs. Santa Claus, etc...)


CAST:

Emma Thompson ... Nanny McPhee
Colin Firth ... Mr. Brown
Angela Lansbury ... Aunt Adelaide
Kelly Macdonald ... Evangeline
Thomas Sangster ... Simon
Eliza Bennett ... Tora
Jennifer Rae Daykin ... Lily
Raphaël Coleman ... Eric
Samuel Honywood ... Sebastian
Holly Gibbs ... Christianna
Hebe Barnes ... Baby Agatha
Zinnia Barnes ... Baby Agatha
Celia Imrie ... Mrs. Quickly
Imelda Staunton ... Mrs. Blatherwick
Elizabeth Berrington ... Letitia

PLOT:

from Yahoo Movies-

A new nanny enters the household of the recently widowed Mr. Brown and attempts to tame his seven exceedingly ill-behaved children. The children, led by the oldest boy Simon, have managed to drive away 17 previous nannies and are certain that they will have no trouble with this one.

But as Nanny McPhee takes control, they begin to notice that their vile behavior now leads swiftly and magically to rather startling consequences. Her influence also extends to the family's deeper problems, including Mr. Brown's sudden and seemingly inexplicable attempts to find a new wife; an announcement by the domineering Aunt Adelaide that she intends to take one of the children away; and the sad and secret longings of their scullery maid, Evangeline.

As the children's behavior begins to change, Nanny McPhee's arresting face and frame appear to change as well, creating even more questions about this mysterious stranger whom the children and their father have come to love.




Movie Review:

I didn't think I would be interested in this movie, at all... but once it started I was captivated - truly I was! It was so intringing - from the fantastic acting of those children in the movie - to the legendary performances of such grand actors like Emma Thompson who wrote the Screenplay, Colin Firth, and Angela Lansbury. They were all absolutely amazing!!! Especially though - Emma Thompson - whose role as the mole-y, long tooth, frazzled looking hair Nanny McPhee- is almost unrecognizable as her lovely self.

It does have a bit of magic - but if you are okay with films like Mary Poppins or say, The Wizard of Oz... then you'll be fine with this. There are no Spells or anything scary to that degree- which would not be acceptable to me.

Instead, it is delightfully fun and entertaining for wholesome family enjoyment!

A Few Cautions: In the intro the children are playing a trick on another Nanny and are pretending to eat their baby sister. It is really a Chicken or something and the baby is discovered safe and sound. Some children may not even get this joke... and simply think it is just meal-time.

Another thing - the father (Colin Firth) is an undertaker - so we do see him at work standing next to a "body".... though it is just man who is lying on a table still - I don't recall ever seeing Mr. Brown even touch him.

And... one more thing, towards the end of the movie - Mr Brown is about to be married to an interesting colorful woman - and she shows a bit too much cleavage. It's over the top really and completely unnecessary, but there it is... so please beware!

Rated PG by the MPAA for mild thematic elements, some rude humor and brief language.


See or Skip:

See.... it's a truly fun, family film!!!

The Nanny Express

MOVIE REVIEW

The Nanny Express:

Hallmark Channel Movie starring Vanessa Marcil (“Las Vegas”), Dean Stockwell (“Quantum Leap”), and Stacy Keach (“Prison Break”).



CAST:
Vanessa Marcil ... Kate
Brennan Elliott ... David
Natalie Dreyfuss ... Emily
Uriah Shelton ... Ben
Dean Stockwell ... Jerry
Dorie Barton ... Lisa
Peter Dobson ... Ray
Stacy Keach ... Rev. MacGregor

PLOT:

from Hallmark-

Vanessa Marcil is a nanny with a knack for healing a hurting family in the Hallmark Channel Original Movie “Nanny Express”. Dean Stockwell and Stacy Keach co-star in the heartwarming tale of learning to have faith in yourself and trust in others.

By the time Kate Hewitt (Marcil) walks through his front door, widower David Chandler (Brennan Elliott, “Strong Medicine”) is a desperate man. His two children, nine-year-old Ben
(Uriah Shelton, “Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight”) and teenager Emily (Natalie Dreyfuss, “Connected”), have already succeeded in chasing a string of six terrorized nannies out of the very same entryway. But Kate, who is caring for an ailing father (Stockwell) and finishing up a teaching degree, needs this job and she resolves to stand up to whatever tricks and pranks the
Chandler kids can dish out—and to help them cope with the death of their mother.

As Kate slowly wins over young Ben, dad David finds himself falling for the spunky nanny as well. The feeling is mutual, but a bitter Emily is determined not to let Kate into her life—or her father’s. Emily doesn’t realize that Kate understands exactly what she’s going through because Kate lost her own mother as a teenager. Somehow, Kate must find a way to reach the angry and isolated teen since Emily’s happiness—and Kate’s as well—depends on it.


Movie Review:

I instantly liked the character of Kate - the devoted daughter to her very sick father, good friend to her lovelorn best friend, the mentor to the local youth at her church, the determined student working towards becoming a teacher, and the new nanny to David's children, Emily and Ben. She has a very busy life.... and being the Nanny, however, isn't too easy. David's children don't want anyone to replace their mother and have plenty of schemes to play on each nanny to get rid of them. This part of the storyline is quite fun.

Kate, however, stays strong and is determined to make it work. In the meantime, she and David, become interested in one another and Ben warms up to her, as well.... Emily, though, keeps up her schemes and works against Kate and her father.

I loved seeing Kate's devotion to her church and to God. It was nice to see Kate turn towards prayer in her time of need.


Spoiler:
Kate's father passes away and Kate eventually leaves her job as the nanny and begins to teach. Emily learns that Kate also lost her mother as a teenager and they finally connect. And then there's David... he and the children visit Kate at school while she is teaching and he officially asks her out on a date.

It has a delightfully sweet ending... that actually leaves you wanting more!


See or Skip:

See, but probably not for small children due to the situation with Kate's father.

-