Personally Yours (2000 TV Movie) User Reviews

Delightful Romance

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 8 May 2005]

In Alaska, Susannah Stanton (Valerie Bertinelli) and Jesse Stanton (Jeffrey Nordling) divorced two years ago. They have two daughters, the teenager Bridget (Brittney Irvin) and the young girl Hannah (Emily Tennant), and a young son, Sam (Michael Welch), and they are good friends. Jesse lives in an isolated ranch, where he receives guests for fishing and tracking, and he depends on his plane to go to the city of Anchorage, where Susannah has a restaurant. They separated because Susannah felt bored and lonely in the ranch. Susannah is dating a lawyer, and their children decide to find a woman for Jesse, sending a letter to a popular magazine called Alaskan Love. He receives a large number of replies, and the children later feel that probably his perfect match is Susannah, and they try to arrange a plan to bring them together. I saw "Wilderness Love" by chance on cable, and what a delightful surprise! The story is adorable, the cast is excellent and the locations are marvelous. I found also amazing the resemblance of Jeffrey Nordling with Michael Douglas. Unfortunately this movie has not been released on VHS or DVD in Brazil, but it is indeed a worthwhile family entertainment. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Um Amor Sem Limites" ("A Love Without Limit")

Enjoyable TV movie

[Chromium_5 · 7/10 · 26 December 2004]

This is another one of those heartwarming mush films that CBS gets a kick out of showing on Sunday nights. It's an enjoyable family film, with some amusing moments and good performances... especially that little girl! Wow, what an actress! She was more natural and believable than both of her older siblings. If she keeps it up, she could be the next Meryl Streep.

Valerie Bertinelli, although far less annoying here than her character on "Touched by an Angel," is a bit odd, with wild mood swings and unpredictable reactions to things. I didn't like her too much, but that's the only complaint I can think of. On the whole, it's an entertaining feel-good film for all ages.

This One is Fun and Predictable

[writer143 · 7/10 · 25 March 2012]

I admit it, I like predictable movies, especially on the weekend when I want to watch but do something else at the same time. Hallmark movies are great for this.

This movie follows that pattern, fun, predictable, happy.

I think what makes this movie work for me is that all of the characters are very likable. The couple has been divorced for 2 years, yet remain friends. We are not exposed to a lot of bitterness and any diatribes against the exes.

Jeff Nordling and Valerie Bertinelli are great in their parts as caring ex-partners who have shared a long married life and 3 children. They portray an underlying love very well without it being over the top or sappy. The kids are great too - none of them is obnoxious as is too often the case in many movies with children as main characters.

Everyone does a great job. The movie is enjoyable and predictable with likable characters and beautiful scenery. I watched it smiling the entire time.

Pleasant movie with a happy ending, and cute Valerie Bertinelli.

[TxMike · 11 July 2005]

It's hard to imagine that Valerie Bertinelli is already in her 40s! Here she is Susannah Stanton, recently divorced from Jessie. Filmed in the wilds and surrounding communities of British Columbia, it seems that Susannah and Jessie just couldn't "coordinate" their lives, so he lives on a ranch and she runs a restaurant in town. They date others, but the kids would really like mom and dad to get back together. That is what the second half of the movie is about. Just a pleasant family story with no violence or bad language.

SPOILERS FOLLOW. The kids try to facilitate by placing personals for dad. Turns out both mom and dad still love each other but seem powerless to turn things around. The break comes when the kids dress up the cabin like a Bed and Breakfast, and invite mom over. Dad shows up, the kids think they should together make it into a real B&B, with a restaurant. A new highway recently opened near the ranch to make it easily accessible for tourists. They agree, the movie ends on a happy note.

You'll see the ending coming before you turn on the TV...

[xavrush89 · 6/10 · 14 January 2005]

...but that doesn't mean I wouldn't recommend it. After all, romantic comedy viewers have certain expectations. No one dies, and even the arguments aren't too serious. There are some humorous moments, and Valerie Bertinelli exhibits her usual charm. They don't call her the Julia Roberts of TV for nothing! One downside is that half the time the adults take a back seat to the boringly squeaky-clean kids, allowing pros like Valerie and Donnelly Rhodes (of "Soap"fame) to walk through this vehicle with their eyes closed. The other is that Alaska is touted as the setting for this movie, but you wouldn't know it to look at it. Anyone who's seen our most beautiful U.S. state--even just on television--could tell that it was shot elsewhere: Canada, as usual. (Rhodes and several of the other actors are Canadian.) Once you get past those two limitations, it's smooth sailing. I wouldn't go out of my way to see this, but if it happens to be airing, go ahead and watch it.

Standard romantic comedy with a few interesting elements

[gee-15 · 6/10 · 8 October 2021]

First of all, the setting is Alaska where (apparently) it's a "buyers market" for women given that the male lead's children place his picture in a magazine for lonely Alaskan men. This is observed somewhat bemusedly at first and then with more alarm by his ex-wife (played by Bertinelli) who begins writing to him anonymously. It plays out pretty much as you'd expect. The issues leading to their divorce in the first place seemed somewhat lame and the romantic conundrum is resolved, not by the people themselves, but via "deus ex machina". But it's a pleasant enough way to pass 90 minutes given that Bertinelli and Nordling are attractive and charismatic.

But what makes this movie stand out for me is one scene where Bertinelli has decided to meet her ex-husband at a restaurant to tell him that she is his mysterious "secret admirer." As she walks to the restaurant, her son discovers (on her computer) the letters she's been writing to his dad as well as the time and place for their rendezvous. He hops on his bike and drives to watch across the street and sees his dad sitting in the window of the restaurant, waiting and his mother on the sidewalk, mustering courage to walk in. It's actually a nice moment as it communicates (solely via images and music) the flustered longing of a woman wanting to reignite a relationship, a boy's deep wish for his divorced parents to get back together, and the anticipation of a man for a relationship that might replace the one he lost. The movie's over twenty years old and I watched it when it first premiered. Yet, that one scene remains with me after all this time.

Background music overshadowed dialogue

[lesnelling · 6/10 · 5 May 2022]

Great movie. Good actors and actresses. Unfortunate that the background music often times drowned out the dialogue. I'm sure that they could tone down the background music since it's probably on a separate track.

epic romcom fail

[sandcrab277 · 4/10 · 1 October 2021]

From the opening scenery anyone that has lived in alaska could tell it wasn't filmed there and it was also way too obvious that the city was NOT anchorge. ... where the float planes allegedly fly out of anhorage isn't even close to resembling lake hood.either ... even after suspending belief of all those inaccuracies, the story lacks realism ... there are plenty of available women living in the anchorage area so there is little need to advertise for them in a nationwide publication ... this film was more of a fairytale then a romantic comedy .. it angered me about the stupidity.

Delightful and Heart Warming

[TrevorW-2 · 10/10 · 9 October 2000]

"Personally Yours" was inspired by actual events and it is obvious by the natural and realistic emotions that are embedded throughout the entire movie. Three children of divorced parents strive to overcome obstacles and get their stubborn parents back together. The plot is perfectly balanced between the story-lines of the children and parents, allowing both adults and children to enjoy this production. The cast and crew all did a wonderful job bringing this delightful story to life.

I hope that CBS plays "Personally Yours" again at some point. I know I will look forward to seeing it and I can't recommend it enough to those who missed it the first time!

A likeable romance - avoid the trailer to avoid spoilers

[calorne · 6/10 · 22 April 2023]

There is good chemistry between the lead players in this likeable romance. There is some lovely scenery, although I see from another review that this was not filmed in Alaska. The acting is good all round, including the children who I thought did a very good job. There was no swearing which makes a refreshing change.

It is an easy watch with no complexity or peril (although a few fish may disagree with that) and so good for a Sunday afternoon, for example, after lunch.

It has some light humour, but nothing that will have you falling off the sofa. Although one of the children tells what I thought was a pretty good joke.

The trailer tells the whole story. It is essentially A to Z rather than a teaser.

Wont forget the soundtrack

[filmfan123-1 · 4/10 · 20 June 2009]

My English is not so good, sorry for that. I liked the music in the film a lot and was searching for ages for that song with the words "january", "Journey" and "feather on the ground" in it. Now I was waiting and watching a second time just to get the music and well, I have it as a film snippet but don't know anything else about it. One of your comments was very helpful, thanks a lot. (also to the others of cause, smile)

I lost and sorry, I wanted to write a comment but so much English and register again and again...

Forgive me please and maybe one good soul may help me to find that song. Is it from Fisher too ? The Song is played while they had the party.

All the best and thanks in advance, really

cheers

I loved it!

[NancyLeeGrahnfan · 10/10 · 17 January 2005]

***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS***

I thought that the movie was excellent. I loved the characters. I thought Valerie did an amazing job. Her character was so real. When she ran away from the restaurant and her son saw it, it made me think wow, that would be a realistic reaction. That little girl was an amazing actress. I thought all around it was a great film. I am a huge fan of Valerie's to begin with. I love her on Touched By an Angel. Her character is funny on that show to. I loved how the tension between the 2 characters was so thick you could cut it with a knife. I just sat there waiting for them to finally kiss. When they woke up and the kids were there, priceless. I laughed so hard I cried and then i cried because of what happened then. I loved it.

Mixed review

[deborahdierman · 6/10 · 23 July 2022]

This is a sweet predicable romance. Actors are believable and kids are great. Scenes of Alaska are not to be missed.

However the music throughout the movie is annoying loud and overcomes much of the dialogue. Not sure if it's a flute but there is a high pitched instrument which led me to keep turning down the volume to the detriment of hearing the spoken words.

If your dog is sensitive to noise be sure to watch this when he's not around.

Falling in Wilderness Love Again

[petershelleyau · 23 October 2002]

Valerie Bertinelli is Susannah Stanton, Anchorage Canada restaurant manager and divorced wife of Wilderness Cove Stanton Ranch manager Jesse (Jeffrey Nordling). When the 3 Stanton children – Bridget (Brittney Irvin), Sam (Michael Welch) and Hannah (Emily Tennant) – place an ad in Alaskalove magazine's personals for Jesse, he is swamped with replies, and Susannah faces her unresolved feelings.

Bertinelli's long hair is light brown with blonde and grey streaks, to represent her maturity, since Susannah and Jesse were married for 15 years, she wears it in a 1960's style ponytail, and her wardrobe includes a series of chokers and necklaces. Although her close-ups are mainly unflatteringly, she looks beautiful when standing in profile at sunset. Bertinelli's best scene is where she decides whether to meet Jesse after writing to him as `Sarah', where she expresses her confusion and mixed emotion, and her skill makes Susannah far more likeable and attractive than Nordling, whose technique is too apparent. Her remaining attraction to Jesse is evident in their banter by the way Bertinelli moves closer to him to speak in a conspiratorial superior manner, and we also hear Bertinelli's voice reciting one of `Sarah's letter's as Jesse reads.

The teleplay by Jill Blotevogel focuses on the children's machinations to reunite their parents, which unfortunately director Jeffrey Reiner makes nauseating in tone, with a sub-plot teen romance between Bridget and Derek (Ross Malinger), the grandson of Jesse's co-worker Burt (Donnelly Rhodes). Whether Susannah will return to Jesse is influenced by the active participation she has in his household, staying on after she is no longer required to be there. Jesse's antagonism towards the replies also presents an ugly misogyny, combined with his lack of charm, where the women are presented as pathetic, and Reiner uses a split screen to have Jesse slam the door on 4 different women at once. There is inexplicable timing about the arrival of replies, since Jesse gets bundles of mail on the same day the magazine appears on sale, and even when the line is spoken by a child, `All's fair in love and war' is still a cliché.

Reiner also uses screen wipes, 2 songs by Fisher on the soundtrack, and effective cross-cutting, and as Jesse's temporary girlfriend, Chicago freelance photographer Gina, Andrea Roth makes more of an impression than Susannah's parallel, Boston lawyer Stephen (Andrew Airlie).

So Warm and Great Actors

[jacinthacarter · 10/10 · 9 December 2021]

Finally a great movie about kids that are incredibly wonderful and parents who has the kind of love that we dream about. This movie has enlightened my heart made me laugh and feel so good inside. The actors are so Great they don't have to be billionaires they are great Actors and I hope they stay this way.

Enjoyable! A love story!

[angiejb-15980 · 10/10 · 2 April 2021]

I have watched this movie numerous times. It never gets old or tiring! I love it! Beautiful scenes in Alaska from the air, on the river. Fun plot for all ages. Family movie. The acting was excellent. You can see love dancing in the eyes of the couple.

Watch it! Again & again...

GREAT FAMILY MOVIE

[debbiedee-08277 · 10/10 · 28 January 2022]

Family's fall apart yet find their way back to each other, a very warm loving movie, something that can happen in real lives...AN EASY 10..Teaches you about love and forgiveness and your true love...Never letting go of what matters , the love of your life and being stubborn can kill a marriage, yet love prevails.

Wonderful

[dayelilly · 10/10 · 15 March 2022]

Have you ever watch a movie, the characters say everything right? Well here is that movie! Beautiful scenery and such likeable characters. Love Valerie Bertinally!

Don't make romance movies like this any more!

[alan-47291 · 9/10 · 24 April 2019]

In today Hallmark movies every movie is made with the same boring premises. This is movie had great scenery with really good actors unlike today were they continually use the same actors. Very enjoyable!

Personally Yours- When Mother and Dad thought They Knew Best **1/2

[edwagreen · 14 September 2011]

Talking about the show "Happily Divorced," everyone is divorced in this film with the exception of the kids.

The children of the divorced couple plot to get their parents to reconcile. Valerie Bertinelli, looking much older here, was married to handsome Jesse before their marriage ended.

While she has found a mate, the father, a handsome guy, is lonesome so the children put an advertisement in the paper to get a lady for him. You ought to see who shows up. It just proves what some women would do to snag a guy.

Bertinelli joins in the "fun" by introducing someone to Jesse, her ex-husband. They hit it off. Mom knows something is wrong.

You don't have to have a doctorate to know where all this shall be leading. Even that wedding scene in the end is so highly predictable.