Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Jason Lee | ... | Jack Peterson | |
Minka Kelly | ... | Jennie Newsom | |
Maggie Elizabeth Jones | ... | Frankie Peterson | |
Jaren Lewison | ... | Kyle Peterson | |
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Connor Paton | ... | Stretch Peterson |
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Stephen Miller | ... | Box Elder |
David Haysom | ... | Lars Hensel | |
Jarod Joseph | ... | Tim McMurray | |
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Michaela Gilchrist | ... | Amanda Nethercott |
Ryan Northcott | ... | Dr. John Betts | |
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Chris Shields | ... | Ranger Lester Biggs |
David LeReaney | ... | Sheriff | |
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Bernard Starlight | ... | Concession Worker |
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Colton Short | ... | Backhoe Driver |
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Roger LeBlanc | ... | Man at Swan Centre |
When a rare swan lands on his farm, a widower and his 3 children must contend with the large large birds and the ambitious ornithologist who arrives to study them, a willful woman who is more interested in the avian family than the human one. Written by Regina Boggs-Robinette
Animal lover Jennie Newsom (Minka Kelly) runs a wildlife station. Widower farmer Jack Peterson (Jason Lee) has three kids; Frankie, Kyle, and Stretch. Frankie is sadden upon finding a dead swan until the kids find the nest. Jack is not happy and Frankie calls Jennie from the yellow pages. It turns out the dead swan was tagged by Jennie and is part of a research project. She has to reintroduce the three chicks into the wild on the Peterson farm.
It's a functional family film for Hallmark but oddly, it's not much as a romance. They try to spice it up by making Jennie initially cold and bitter. Her relationship with the little girl is more compelling. I was expecting a little girl with little chicks following her like Fly Away Home. This is not that which does limit the cuteness factor. There isn't much in terms of drama and the only action is little Maggie Elizabeth Jones driving an ATV. Is that legal? Are there no union rules? I am still uncertain about the acting prowess of cheerleader Minka and Jason in more serious roles. The little girl is cute but it's not enough.