There have been many movies about city doctors moving to the rural mountain areas, finding it extremely difficult at first, and little by little, learning to love it and never go back. This story concerns a Chicago pediatrician, whose wife has just died from cancer, and who must go to rural North Carolina for a summer in order to get a promotion to head pediatrician. He has a 10 year old son who is very asthmatic. I wondered why the doctor's promotion was conditional, figuring it was just to give a reason to get him into the country for the story, but I was wrong, as this was just about the only twist that wasn't obvious from the start. The first third of the movie was the weakest part. All the characters were stereotypes, mostly bumpkins, except the female mayor, and you knew right away what would eventually happen there, especially since she was a widow. The middle followed the formula of the townsfolk gradually warming to the doctor and vice versa. I was about to rate this a 4 or 5, but the final third, while not wholly original, was very well done and emotional, and along with a couple of surprises, saved the film for me, and made it worth seeing. This is definitely not a film for the action crowd, as it has no violence, sex, or vulgar language, (although one woman comes on very strong to the doctor, overdoing her part badly). It is probably what most would call a traditional family film, though it has some scenes that might upset those who find medical scenes disturbing. Like one other reviewer stated, it felt a little like a Hallmark film or a TV movie, but if it finds the audience it is intended for, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Have a tissue handy for the last few minutes.
By the way, I have been to Chicago and rural North Carolina many times, and if I were the doctor, I would have stayed in North Carolina too. I rarely encountered any "country bumpkins" no matter where I went there.
By the way, I have been to Chicago and rural North Carolina many times, and if I were the doctor, I would have stayed in North Carolina too. I rarely encountered any "country bumpkins" no matter where I went there.