Love Comes Softly

No doubt more than once this story actually played out in the 1800's, marriages arranged for survival and for the sake of the family unit. I'm amazed many people expect a movie to exactly follow the book, in most instances that isn't possible, the only movie I can recall coming close to the book version is BBC's production of Pride and Prejudice (with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth). This movie (Love Comes Softly) easily stands on its own as does the book--view them as equal but separate entities. Dale Midkiff's performance was outstanding as a man of deep religious values, moral, compassionate, gentle but strong, kind, wise and understanding of Marty's pain and his child's jealousy and inability to accept a new "mom". I found the "age difference" between Clark and Marty quite believeable, Clark was a man with an established farm (something that wouldn't have been as believeable with a 20-25 year-old widowed man). His character has weathered hard times, loss and sadness in losing his own wife, managing a farm and raising a young child on his own--all making him wiser from these experiences; this increases his compassion toward Marty and his ability to deal with the expected conflict between his young daughter and the newly widowed Marty. One viewer stated there really wasn't a reason for marriage since Clark wanted Marty there to influence and guide his daughter--totally untrue. In that day and time to have a young, recently widowed woman living in his house would have been a disgrace and a vehicle for gossip, totally out of character for the values expressed by Clark--he would never have had Marty living in his house without the benefit of marriage (regardless of whether he and Marty had any love interest). Clark is all man with a strong but soft, gentle side that is irresistible. The viewer can see the budding love in his eyes for Marty as well as see Marty's appreciation for his strength, wisdom, steadiness and his love for his child. Dale (as Clark) is so convincing in the scene where he finally discovers Marty's note, his puffy eyes, his drawn face certainly look as though he has shed many tears over Marty's departure--a rare emotional scene especially for a male actor.Katherine Heigl is outstanding in the range of emotions her character experiences--from immature, youthful love with her husband Aaron, to the shock and pain of his untimely death, through grief, and finally maturity into a lasting love with Clark. Also, I don't think I've ever seen a better performance from Corbin Bernsen.This movie is extraordinary, rich in moral values, romance without nudity, expressions of true love without overt sex or explicit bedroom scenes, no swear words--not one single four-letter word so common in movies today--how refreshing. There are lines in this movie that bring you to tears and others that make you laugh out loud.I love this movie, have seen it many times on DVD and no doubt will watch it many more times. There is an overall sense of goodness in the characters and this movie in general. Michael Landon, Jr. has done an outstanding job of providing a movie worth viewing over and over and a credit to the memory of his Dad. This movie is worth every one of the 5 stars I gave it in this review.

FINALLY, a movie no less love story, that reflects Judeo/Christian values. It is a movie that exhibits what most Christians believe and depicts -- without preaching -- true Christian love and compassion. The message of the gospel is woven within the story intricately and it is a delight to watch.I rented this movie first from Blockbuster quite by accident. Right after seeing it, I immediately went on-line and bought it and then watched it again, and again and again. I've only done that with a handful of movies ever. The only other movies "worthy" of my repeated viewing are A&E's BBC production of Jane Austin's "Pride and Prejudice," Emma Thompson's screenplay and movie "Sense and Sensibility," and some of the older classics such as "Now Voyager" with Bette Davis.I have become so weary of Hollywood continuously using "Christian" characters as evil, or doing evil things all by their warped interpretation of how Christians act in the name of God. Non-Christians attempting to portray Christians in film has almost always come up sorely lacking in authenticity.I recently saw a movie where the only character who even mentions God is a psycho stalker. The godless are of course, the heroes. Typical Hollywood fare.This is a story that shows a father as a Christian father and husband should be. It shows a woman who struggles with a tremendous tragedy in her life but by seeing true Christian charity and compassion through this father and widower who took her in, begins to allow happiness back into her heart and manages to show kindness to his young daughter who misses her dead mother terribly. The plot is admittedly predictable, however the acting is so well done (even by the child and generally speaking, I do not care for child actors as they always seem to be reading their lines rather than "becoming" their character) that you find yourself being swept away willingly into the story regardless.This is a movie you can watch with the entire family not only for the fine story line and the fine directing (by Michael Landon Jr. -- obviously a chip off the ole block), but because the production itself is not (unfortunately) the usual cutting-the-corners cheaply made movie produced by the Christian community. I hate to say that but it's true with only a few exceptions (Mel Gibson's "The Passion" for example).Christians and non-Christians alike will love this story of Matty, Clark and Missy because Christians can see Biblical principles within the story line and non-Christan's can finally witness in a movie the things Christians truly believe while enjoying a heartwarming love story!The sequel to this movie "Love's Enduring Promise" (both movies based on Christian novels by Janette Oke BTW) is also a wonderful story and a must see.Rent this movie if you do not wish to yet add it to your collection, but then I predict, when you see it once, you'll want to see it over and over again and return here to buy it!

Nice story

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This movie is such a joy to watch. Good clean movie that the family can watch.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, as well as the first 5 sequels. A pregnant widow and widower with daughter enter a marriage of convenience. Through commitment, love follows. The leads had the necessary screen magic, with Clark being the kind of man any woman could fall in love with. I also love how they show that God can still be a presence in trying situations (for example, the preacher was an itinerant, and traveled large distances to pastor people, as well as perform clerical duties, so it was up to the individual to cultivate their relationship with God. I've seen this movie about 5 times and don't get tired of it.