Finding Normal (2013 TV Movie) User Reviews

Remake of Doc Hollywood

[tabuno · 6/10 · 16 January 2019]

28 July 2014. This predictable, but enjoyable gender twist on Doc Hollywood (1991) starring Michael J. Fox as the urbanized male doctor instead of Candace Cameron Bure who doesn't get top billing even though she has the lead role makes for an entertaining city slicker who begins to appreciate the simple ways of country life.

Unlike Doc Hollywood, there are not as many short clips of doctor visits to fascinating patients and the dramatic older doctor scene is not as pronounced which makes for a more monotone storyline. The old doc in Finding Normal though is a much more fascinating, if less irascible character.

Overall, Finding Normal while it has its charms, some nice photography, and a more prominent religion tone, doesn't quite have the charm and comic finesse as Doc Hollywood.

"It's not about making a living but making a life."

[utgard14 · 6/10 · 22 May 2014]

Candace Cameron Bure plays a doctor traveling from Los Angeles to her wedding in the Hamptons when she's pulled over for speeding in the town of Normal, North Carolina. Because she has a lot of unpaid tickets, she's taken before a country judge who sentences her to serve as the town's doctor for three days to pay off her fine. While there she starts to fall for the small town and one local man (Trevor St. John) in particular.

What a pleasant surprise this was. I think it's impossible to dislike Candace Cameron Bure unless you have some serious personality issues. She's likable, pretty, and endearing. The supporting cast is good, too. A lot of times in these types of TV movies, you have a couple of recognizable leads and then a bunch of bland Canadians (I kid, I kid) filling out the rest of the cast. But here the cast is full of personable actors. Lou Beatty, Jr. is a standout and nearly steals the movie. The sheriff's deputy and the little girl are also very nice. My only real problem with the cast is Trevor St. John playing the small town guy Candace's big city doctor is inevitably supposed to fall for. For starters, his accent is a bit much. Everybody in the town has a Southern accent but this guy is full-on Gomer with it. Also, his character is kind of a jerk from the moment we first meet him. Throughout most of the movie, there's this condescending air about him that I didn't quite like. Nice kiss at the end with Candace, though. Pretty hot for this type of movie, I gotta admit.

As others have pointed out, the story is similar to the Michael J. Fox movie Doc Hollywood. Although Candace does very little doctoring, really. There are some plot gremlins, as well. For one thing, she has to stay in the town to serve out her sentence because they don't accept credit or debit cards (really?) and the town's only ATM is broken. Also, she apparently has no checks because "where I come from we don't use those." Well this is all just contrived silliness. She could probably call her bank and have the money transferred or any other of a half-dozen solutions that would end the movie's plot before it really begins. Also, the outstanding tickets that she has are not local so I'm sure Los Angeles would not be thrilled to know that instead of getting its money, this lady worked a few days as a doctor in Mayberry. But this is all just hole-poking and perhaps a bit unfair so I would advise just shutting your brain off and enjoying it for what it is.

Some of the critiques I've read come from reviewers with obvious axes to grind and personal agendas to pursue. This movie has no pretense about being what it is nor does it try to be sneaky or subversive. I watched it on a channel that primarily shows Christian-themed programming. I knew it was going to be a movie of a certain type. If I (or anybody else) was uncomfortable with that, why watch it? Yet some people apparently did watch it, all the while with their fists clenched over the perceived outrage being perpetrated on them. Takes all kinds I guess. Things do go off the rails a little bit when they bring the ACLU into the plot. It just seems pretty unbelievable that so much is happening in this small town during Candace's brief stay. But, again, suspension of disbelief is our friend here.

So, final result is that it's a very nice TV movie despite its flaws. Charming turns from Candace Cameron Bure and Lou Beatty, Jr. go a long way to making it work. Speaking of Mr. Beatty, I would like to address a comment by another reviewer. The reviewer said that this movie was a "poor remake of Doc Hollywood but with less black people." What an asinine statement. I didn't realize there was a set number of people of any kind that every movie had to have. But since the reviewer saw fit to go there, I would just like to point out that Lou Beatty's character is more important to the plot of this film than any black character in Doc Hollywood was.

You don't have to be Christian to enjoy this movie

[eduramater · 7/10 · 28 May 2019]

Found this one on Netflix a couple of years ago and don't even remember why I added it to my list. None of the cast members were known to me. Might have been looking for some lightweight escapism.

This provided. It seemed like the kind of rom-com that Reese Witherspoon might have made, and there is more than a passing resemblance between Candace Cameron Bure and Reese. Something about this movie drew me in. I especially liked Lou Beatty Jr. as the judge. There weren't many false notes in the movie, all the way up to and including the "message" contained in the courtroom sequence. Agree or disagree with the legal issues, they don't take up a lot of time and won't cause you any trauma. I'm not the least bit religious and strongly support separation of church and state. Despite that, there was much more to like about Finding Normal than to dislike, and I have recommended it to a lot of my friends.

The other side of Doc Hollywood

[lwmtem · 8 June 2013]

A doctor (Candace Cameron Bure), eager to reach her new life in another city, is caught for speeding and when the license is run, is found to have a number of outstanding violations. At her hearing, she is held without in the town without incarceration until the fines are paid off and her car impounded as a precautions for a potential flight risk. Without local access to her regular means of cash for emergencies, the judge, being the town's secretly ailing physician, has an opportunity for some leisure in his remaining days and uses his less than willing detainee to tend to his many patients who need to be seen on regular rounds during his brief absences. Without a hotel and an open jail and without the use of her car, uses available transportation and the available jail cell each night as her hotel room and during the day makes rounds to his many patients. Over the short time the doctor (Bure) reflects on initial hardships and those she has met and begins to look at life in this small town and the contrast of the life of as a city physician, a physicians's wife while being drawn to a local man. A light romance that injects a twist on the Doc Hollywood. With some funny moments this warm, light romance is a keeper that I will see again and again.

A familiar rom-com with a surprising twist of the unspoken Hollywood formula

[pbickford-12-824870 · 7/10 · 27 May 2014]

(Minor spoilers ahead) On one hand, Finding Normal treads very familiar ground: woman city slicker doctor lands like a fish out of water in a ridiculously good-natured burg in the middle of nowhere and has to rethink her priorities while first sparring with--then falling for--the good-looking bachelor town mechanic. The characters are likable, the filming and acting are fine, and the whole enterprise is nice, but a little forgettable.

But then, something amazing happens which is eye-opening in that that you come to realize that something so ordinary is basically never seen in this genre of movie. The characters of this middle-America town are revealed to contain large numbers of practicing Christians who seem to actually take their faith seriously as a part of their life, and are nevertheless portrayed as, well, normal folks.

They go to church on Sunday, they attend pancake breakfasts where they actually socialize like normal folks, and they seem like genuinely nice people. They're not a secret glassy-eyed cult; they're not simpletons or hateful bigots who treat outsiders with disgust; they're not covert hypocrites living out endless perversions in private while breathing fire and brimstone at the pulpit... or any of the countless tropes that have been beaten into the ground for decades by Hollywood.

Perhaps most shocking, they also don't express the sort of lukewarm, formalistic faith which is the only sort that Hollywood seems to allow Christians to possess on film--the kind that makes mealy-mouthed reference to "some greater power" while never actually saying the "G" word. Instead, the characters in this town are regular folks who believe in God, and are just fine with that. They're open, non-self-conscious, and frankly, a lot like the actual people of faith in the real world.

That this sort of character is _never_ seen in a romantic comedy--or for that matter, almost any movie outside of the "Christian Movie" ghetto, is what was most surprising to me as I watched this film.

If the female lead had expressed a deep interest in the healing power of crystals, it would have simply marked her as a "free spirit" and it would have fit comfortably in with the genre; if the characters had been seen bowing to Mecca at some point, it would have been "edgy". But perhaps the most subversive thing that Finding Normal manages is to actually incorporate Christians into a romantic comedy without turning it into a religious film. As such, this initially has the effect of shocking you out of the "rom-com" zone somewhat as a viewer--and that itself speaks volumes for the way Hollywood has formalized its suspicion of (primarily Christian) religion into the way stories are presented on film.

Unforgettable, uniquely delightful🙏

[perfectstrangerh · 10/10 · 6 February 2022]

Dearly love actor, producer Lou Beatty in movie Finding Normal. He steals your heart in this movie. He's so likable, lovable, intelligent, quick with humor, wonderfully caring & has a great deal of wisdom.

Basically good clean entertainment

[EmmaNelly · 6/10 · 11 June 2014]

This movie is one that you can watch with your family and not feel uncomfortable. It won't bore you but it won't overwhelm you either. I would give it a try if you like Hart of Dixie, Sweet Home Alabama or Gilmore Girls. Basically a good story with a clean script. You will laugh and you will realize it's a bit far fetched in some places. I love a good sweetheart movie and this is just that. Country life meets city girl and city girl is at times obnoxious. It makes you slow down and enjoy the "backwards" country ways represented in this movie. I don't think you would necessarily watch it several times but it is a good one timer. I really felt parts of this film were predictable but enjoyed the story anyway.

OK TV-Movie with a not-top-subtle religious/political agenda

[sohrmn · 5/10 · 17 June 2014]

"Finding Normal" is not -- by any means -- a horrible film. Nor it is a particularly good film. It has decent enough production values for a TV-Movie, but the conservative religious and political views expressed in the film may not be everyone's cup of tea.

Basically, the film follows a "big city" doctor who learns to love "small town" living. To be fair, the broad-based "city vs. country" stereotypes used in the film are nothing new. In fact the basic storyline is similar to Doc Hollywood (1991).

People who live in the "big city" are generally depicted as being cynical, snobbish, no-good folk who do not regularly attend church and (gasp) may even support the ACLU.

Rural people, in contrast, are generally depicted as being friendly, quaint, authentic, hardworking, decent folk who regularly go to church and believe that the greatest threat to America is the ACLU.

Yes, this TV-Movie did not invent these cultural, geographic and political stereotypes, but they certainly do not help the audience care about the characters.

Anyways, so the "big city" doctor needs to do a bit of community service in a Southern small town. To the film's credit, the town is not racially segregated....Although the film does seem to borrow a bit from Andy Griffith Show.

"Doc Shelby" -- one of the main actors in the film is arguable the best character -- in terms of development, acting and writing. You really do believe that his character plays a leadership role in the community and, faced with his own mortality, wants to make sure that the town will not be without a doctor.

Most of the other characters rarely move outside of the "big city" and "country bumpkin" stereotypes.

This is probably why one of the funniest lines in the film is when it gives characters lines, which are critical of judgmental people and stereotypes. It occurs early on in the film, when the "big city" doctor sits down for dinner and, yeah the irony is just hilarious.

In terms of its religious and political viewpoints, the film waits awhile to hit the audience over the head with them.

In fact, Netflix did include film in their "faith and spirituality" genre, which may have caused the film to be seen by audience members who are not fond of conservative politics or the religious right.

Yet, the message in the film gradually becomes clear; the "big city" doctor needs to be "saved" from the evils of big city life. How will this occur? If you did not know that this film was designed for a (conservative) Christian audience, then the right-wing hole that the film digs itself into may be hard to stomach.

Everyone in the town assumes that the "big city" doctor is nominally Christian and have nothing with expecting her to attend church as part of her community service.

The main "hot button" story line element has the small town fighting against the evil ACLU, in order to keep a Christian cross on public land.

The complex issue of religious freedom and church-state separation is basically reduced to an accusation that anyone who does not agree with the cross being on public land -- by itself -- is unAmerican tyrannt.

Granted, if you are a conservative Christian who shares the belief that religious freedom should only apply to your church, then the film's weak efforts at a "court room" drama may appeal to you.

Probably the biggest problem with the film is that nothing really major happens -- in three short days -- to explain the huge -- almost absurd -- shift in the "big city" doctor's personality and values.

Beyond the legal dispute, the big city doctor saves the life of a young girl and plays phone tag with her big city finance.

The problem is that we already know that the big city doctor is quite good at being a doctor. While she does, rather quickly, fall in love with a local boy, that is not really enough to explain the radical shift in her personality and values.

In the end she ditches her big city finance -- who may or may not be a stereotypical, big city, ethnically-ambiguous, non-Christian character (read Jewish).

No doubt the finance is more concerned with his career then the woman he loves, but so to is the woman herself.

The problem is that the woman goes from an Independent career gal, to the type of women who believe that women should be less focused on their career and more focused on being a good and obedient wife.

It is a pretty significant change, which is never really explained or justify in the film.

he only thing standing between Dr. Lisa Leland (Candice Cameron Bure) and the wedding of her dreams in the Hamptons is a 2600-mile drive from Los Angeles to Long Island.

A wonderful movie, with a plot similar to Doc Hollywood

[Jim32792 · 10/10 · 21 June 2013]

The first two reviews tell you all you need to know about the plot, but this is a story that will warm your heart and you will want to watch it several times. I just watched for the third time tonight. Candace does her usual good job as Lisa, a surgeon headed to Long Island, to make a fortune with her boyfriend Steve, also a doctor, by making house calls for the rich at $2500 a visit. In Normal she finds a lot of very nice people, who are just happy being who they are and caring enough about one another, to help each other survive whatever problem they seem to be having. A far cry from her former existence in Southern California or the existence she would experience in Long Island where she is headed. You see her falling for this place and the people, little by little. The ending scene is really memorable, and I have watched, just it, many times. The performances are outstanding, especially Lisa, Doc, the little girl and her mother, and Lucas the local love interest.

Semi-predictable but a good wholesome movie.

[tinmanjs · 7/10 · 15 February 2024]

A New York City doctor drives coast to coast through small town North Carolina and gets caught in a speed trap. Her punishment is to spend 3 days in Normal, where she learns about trust, manners, love and God.

She gets to know the residents of this small town and starts to understand their way of life.

Meanwhile, her possibly fiance, back in New Yawk, continually reminds her that she is costing him $2500/visit while she is not with him.

It's sort of your typical predictable movie, but it is still worth watching.

It would be good for the whole family to watch it together.

Good acting all around.

Trevor St. John as the judge, doctor, and preacher is a cross between Morgan Freeman and Kieth David. Good actor.

My wife and I enjoyed the movie.

Christian remake of the mediocre Doc Hollywood

[craigmacintyre1 · 1/10 · 19 May 2014]

I suppose if your religion is based on suspending disbelief, this movie is for you. Otherwise, this is 90 minutes you'll never get back. This is a poor remake of Doc Hollywood but with less black people and more make-up. This feel good movie is only for the true believers or the brain dead. This low budget movie makes the same mistake of most low budget movies. The viewer is expected to mentally fill in the plot gaps by understanding the significance of random events. A simple country boy is the deep thinker. Despite the fact that nothing wise ever passes his lips. The antagonist is the Jewish boyfriend who is only interested in money. The black patriarch adopts white kids and has no black family members. Could this movie be any worse?

Family Fun

[johnj-02245 · 9/10 · 18 September 2016]

Finding Normal was an enjoyable movie for the whole family. There were humorous moments and some poignant phrases that brought the film to a deeper level. As a mother with young children, it is nice to come across a movie that doesn't scare them or embarrass me. The acting was very well done and I enjoyed the country scenery. It was refreshing to see small town life portrayed in a positive light, exposing some of the stereotypes that float around unchallenged. I was also pleased to see homeschooling portrayed as a viable option for a "normal" family, again challenging certain unfair stereotypes. Overall, the film gently but honestly depicted American small town life in a friendly, understanding manner supporting strong family values and challenging some of the more sensational small town depictions that other films like to portray.

Will never re-watch

[SaarahN · 6/10 · 1 May 2016]

Iyou're looking for a sweet, Christian, country film...Look no further. This film centres around a young doctor(portrayed by Candice Cameron Buré) who plans a trip with her boyfriend. She is set to meet him at the destination, rather than travel with him. During the road trip she encounters a problem and is stuck behind bars- at a loss, with no money to post bail, she is forced to do community service as the small town of Normal's doctor, for three days.

She is dead set against making the most of the hold-up, which comes as no surprise- she is a city girl, after all. But as the days progress, she begins to question her life in the city- was that life all she ever wanted? She begins to question the value of her city career, and after meeting a wise, older doctor, she questions the ethical nature of her medical practices. Predictably, she also begins to doubt her relationship with her boyfriend of five years (the same one she is supposed to meet)- and this is only after another (more romantic but less educated?) prospect arrives at the scene.

And that is this film's biggest downfall: not because it was cliché but because it was unbelievable: half a decade is a really long time, and to think in all that time she had been ignorant of the pleasures of a simple life is wholly unrealistic and makes her seem quite foolish. If she had run into a long lost love or 'the one that got away', maybe I'd be more understanding- but with this, I'm honestly doubting her attraction to the country boy (as he refers to himself- he is portrayed by Trevor St. John). Their relationship seemed too platonic. However, if you're looking for a happy ending (or an ending that will please any romantic), this is definitely for you. Conversely, if you're looking for a more realistic story, I recommend Before We Go 2014 (starring Chris Evans) or Last Night 2010 (starring Keira Knightley). It's just that the romantic love seemed like an infatuation- nothing cement. They may have shared a few deep conversations but, to me, they amounted to nothing. It was foolish of her to throw away five years for three days. But then again, I don't know know how love works. No one really does.

Side note: The Louisiana accents are on-point, you may have to rewind to know what is being said! The casting choices were also commendable, especially the ol' wise guy (portrayed by Lou Beatty Jr.) was an excellent choice! I adored the character's wisdom, his sincerity and his words were perfectly timed- as an actor, he performed well. I also liked the character of the country boy- he too was a 'smart guy' but then again his intelligence was "just average for a country boy."

Epic geography fail; terrible attention to detail

[lauren_alyse_saul · 3/10 · 18 January 2017]

Great premise for a film with an emphasis on faith and family, but was completely overshadowed by the significant plot holes that anyone could spot. Someone miserably failed a geography lesson coming up with this garbage. It was filmed in Louisiana and they even mention the name of a parish and speak of Louisiana on several occasions, but it is set in NC and the characters in one scene travel to Buncombe County (Asheville) to the courthouse. That's in NC, people! Hollywood, as a NC resident, let me give you a brief lesson: Louisiana and NC are not one in the same, nor are they a short drive from each other. And speaking of a drive, what doctor would drive cross country in a Beamer?? LA to Louisiana or NC would be several days drive and for someone to be that put together but not change clothing is highly unlikely. Trust me, my family moved cross country from Georgia to California and it took 4 days; not an afternoon. Also, throughout the film, the main character fails to mention that she's engaged which is the whole reason for the cross country excursion! Just no attention to detail with this movie at all, and this is coming from a big Candace fan!

Solace and purpose

[kosmasp · 6/10 · 21 July 2022]

Depending on your view of life and how to live it, you may agree with certain things here or not. It is important for some to have and reach certain goals to be happy - or to make others happy. Being in a small town also means everyone knows everyone (sounds cliche but also true).

So what do our characters want here? Or rather is it achievable? In movies I reckon everything is achievable anyway, that aside though, the movie is a journey and a character building one at that. More or less only thinking about herself at first, there is more to discover for our main character (no pun intended). A nice little movie - but surely not for everyone.

One of the best

[single_in_in · 8/10 · 11 November 2021]

I love these movies. I can watch these with my children.

I loved this story line. Some mentioned engage ment wasn't mention because she said it wasn't asked and he said it was towards the end but I believe it's because he felt challenged or etc.

I love the cops, preacher and town doctor!! The main one was wonderful and just right.

I felt Candace did a great job . She did not phone it in. Infact she was better than the new full house episodes and even some of her newest mystery serious.

I love how it focus on Christ love and Earley love.. As for what one review wrote about geography if they wanted a geography lesson maybe choose the history Channel.

Another about clothing and etc.. it would seem this person just choose to watch it so they could find fault and ways to condem others. Shame on them hope no on can find rocks to throw that way.

Not every Christian no matter what we believe dresses or acts the same. That's one of the wonders of it all.

So similar to the Animated Cars movie!

[kcdc-80115 · 7/10 · 25 February 2015]

I'm only 30 minutes into the movie, but I can't believe the similarities it has with the Animated Cars movie. First off, it is about a rich, cell phone-dependent doctor (Lisa) who while travelling across the country gets pulled over by a cop for speeding in her fancy BMW ( which she is completely enamored with.) Because she has a lot of unpaid parking tickets and has a warrant out for her arrest, she is taken to see the judge in Smalltown (Normal), USA, population 321. She sees the judge who makes her do 3 days of community service because she is unable to pay the total in fines. Surprisingly, the judge is called "Doc" because he is also the only doctor in the town. Her car is taken away from her, and she is therefore not able to jump ship. One difference, though, is Doc is trying to get her to stay.

This movie is about bringing the lady to her humble self, very similar to the way Lightning McQueen is in Cars. Her city girl character is juxtaposed to the simpleness of the small town life. Beyond that I'm not sure as I'm not done with the movie yet.

Population 321

[nogodnomasters · 5/10 · 20 September 2018]

Normal is a one-horse town southern run by Doc Shelby (Lou Beatty Jr.). When Dr. Lisa Lelanad (Candace Cameron Bure) is caught speeding through the town she is sentenced to three of nauseum and community service. Add the script of "Doc Hollywood" in an overly predictable plot and you got this feature. Okay for kids. Has come to Jesus moments.

Finding Normal

[carybelieves · 10/10 · 10 June 2013]

A female Doctor (Candace Cameron) is moving to the Hampton's so she can have a better life and make more money. On the way she gets herself in trouble and has to stay in a small town called Normal for a couple of days. During that time she comes to learn what matters and what life is really all about This is a wonderful little movie. A movie that reminds us of a few things that we've forgotten along the way and that caring for your fellow man is still important. I loved Candace Cameron in this. Lou Beatty Jr (The Doctor) was very good as well. It's a heartwarming piece that left me feeling good. Doesn't hurt that I wrote the piece and co-produced it with my business partner. Even saying that it's the kind of movie that tugs at you. Hopefully others will enjoy it as well. The amount of money and time that was spent on this is so small comparatively to a Hollywood production but it just shows that if a movie has heart it can succeed.

Unbelievable, but entertaining

[sweber3303-590-815866 · 6/10 · 27 August 2023]

First question is why someone would drive all the way from Los Angeles to Long Island. It's the 21st century, and nobody would drive all of that way, as opposed to just hopping on a plane.

The next question is how that person would end up in Louisiana, when driving from California to the Hamptons. That's what normal people would call the scenic route. There's no way Louisiana is on the way to The Hamptons.

I realize it's a comedy, but it's more of an Adam Sandler type ridiculous comedy, than the typical Hallmark family channel type comedy.

It's a slow starter, that picks up in the middle, and only then finally fulfills the comedy part of the movie.

Mandatory Community Service in a Small Town

[Uriah43 · 5/10 · 19 April 2020]

This film begins with a female doctor by the name of "Lisa Leland" (Candace Cameron Bure) leaving Los Angeles to drive all the way to New York to be with her boyfriend "Steve" (Andrew Bongiorno) who also happens to be a doctor as well. And judging from their rather selfish attitudes it appears that the two of them are just right for each other. However, things become a bit more complicated when Lisa is pulled over for speeding in Normal, Louisiana and after a quick check is discovered to have a number of other unpaid parking tickets. As a result, she is summoned to appear before the judge named "Doc Shelby" (Lou Beatty Jr.) who sentences her to 72 hours of community service as the town doctor. Having never been to a small town she soon learns that there is another side of life that she never imagined existed. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was essentially a clone of "Doc Hollywood" which incorporated a Christian message in its theme. Although I have no problem with that, I must admit that it lacked the zest of its predecessor to a great degree and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Average.

Excellent

[jvanne · 10/10 · 16 November 2014]

Well-written and directed. Clean and fun. On the other hand, if you are a Kim Kardoooshian fan or think 2 1/2 Men is "groovy," this won't be for you. On the other hand, if you want clever, wholesome, well-written and filmed story, you will enjoy it.

Acting was enjoyable, cinematography well done.

As with all movies, there is a bit of poetic license... although I do, in fact have a friend that married someone after knowing her one day. And that was 30 years ago, and they are happily married today.

Sit back and enjoy. No gratuitous violence, no "let's try to be cool" sex scenes, etc.

Quick change

[Jackbv123 · 6/10 · 6 April 2021]

Candace does a lot of these parts where she is arrogant and self-centered at the start and later turns into the all-American sweetheart. In this movie she changes personality 180 degrees in 3 days, although something made me think that she served four days, but maybe she had one of those days off. She was basically a witch for almost half the movie.

The short time frame for the story, and spending so much of the screen time with Candace being a jerk, it was hard for her and Trevor St. John to build any chemistry. Given more screen time, it would have been there, but the way the movie played, there wasn't enough of it. Which begs the question(s). What did Lucas see in Lisa and vice versa?

I try to avoid commenting on actors' appearances unless it's bad makeup, but I think it's fair to say that Candace looked absolutely stunning in that dress. That dress cost more than a couple of house calls.

Something occurred to me that Lucas' repeated comeback to "you must think you're pretty smart?" "Just average for a country boy." This could be an insult country vs. The city.

There is a religious element in the story, but mostly it's about unselfish service. The court case about the cross reflected pretty typical attitudes on both sides. Obviously one person being offended should outweigh a resounding majority consisting of hundreds of other people who actually live in the town. Cancel culture was building before most people gave it a name.

Take away that court case, and there isn't much story. Candace did another TV movie only a year later where she was a young doctor exiled to a remote small town (this time in Alaska).

The cute kid helps, but not enough.

As one reviewer said (paraphrased) the movie it's horrible, but it isn't that good.

Displaying a cross in a public place made me puke

[lafscal · 3/10 · 14 June 2014]

Even though the town bought a very small plot of land around the cross to get around the law, they were the bad guys who were made to look good in this film

Also what is wrong with eating good food. Sushi is made fun of in this film along with lattes and all the things considered uppity

Why was there only one black person in the town Why did the streets look busy When only 321 people lived there

Why does going to church make you a good person When you are serving people

This movie is not worth your time but the start is cute

Cute, cheesy and worth the watch

[reginagle · 6/10 · 14 October 2023]

Cute, in a cheesy kind of way. It is supposed to take place in North Carolina. However, she says she is in Ouchita Parish, which would be in the northern part of the state along I20. The movie was filmed in Columbia, LA, which is southern Louisiana. Going from Los Angeles to East Hampton wouldn't someone take I40 or I80. I tend to like movies with Candace Cameron Bure. She plays a doc in a small town, again. She previously played one in Christmas under wraps, and she had to treat people and animals as well. This has humor, scenery and it has learning and teaching moments. I would recommend as a good family movie.