The title of this movie is pretty misleading. This movie is a drama, with the main relationship in the movie being between nurse Emma and ailing former author Norma. Any romance between Emma and Norma's son Justin is tentative at best.
This is a very well written drama. The characters are complex and well-developed, as are the relationships, particularly between Emma and Norma. The dialog is real and natural. You know, of course, that Emma will be the nurse who finally breaks through Norma's hard, crusty shell, but she doesn't do it by being sweet, loving and empathetic. She is a cold, kind of prickly character herself, and the main reason that Norma allows her to stay is because she truly doesn't have any agenda except to do her job and care for Norma as she would any other patient who wasn't so famous and wealthy. Rachel Carpani as Emma and Doris Roberts as Norma both give layered, nuanced performances. Neither is exactly a likable character, at least initially, but they both have a good character arc, and you come to like them and enjoy the relationship between them.
Since this is a movie about a nurse caring for a woman who is terminally ill, you know it's going to be a tearjerker, and it is. It's not overly maudlin or sappy, though, and the tears are well-earned. The scene where Norma reconciles with her son Justin is also very touching and satisfying and brough a few tears as well.
All in all, this was a very moving drama that engaged you from start to finish. My only complaint was the romance between Justin and Emma. It felt like it was afterthought. Either they should've had a full romance between them, or they should've just eliminated the romance altogether. Otherwise, this was a Hallmark movie of the same high caliber that was common on the network a decade or two earlier. Definitely worth a watch.
0 out of 0 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink