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Reel Love
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Charm, romance, and strong vocab in Southern love story.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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What's the Story?
The television movie REEL LOVE stars LeAnn Rimes as Holly Whitman, a young Chicago lawyer who rushes back to her small Alabama lake town after her father Wade (Burt Reynolds) has a heart attack. While she tries to convince him to take a break from bass fishing and take care of himself, much to the frustration of brother Everett (Christian Potenza), she begins to reconnect with her complicated dad and her small town Southern roots. Hanging out with old friends like Mary Jo (Mary Ashton) plus her feelings for Jay Danville (Shawn Roberts), the new handsome guy in town, also has her rethinking her big city lifestyle, much to the dismay of her stuffy boyfriend, Carl Linford (Jeff Roop).
Is It Any Good?
The story isn't particularly original, but thanks to the performances of both Rimes and Reynolds, it contains enough witty lines to make it entertaining. It also offers lots of heartwarming messages about reconnecting with family, while underscoring the value of community. The romantic plot line that develops also adds to the fun.
It's charming, but some of the content isn't appropriate (or intended) for younger viewers. No doubt that teens and adults fishing for a positive viewing choice may find something to hook onto here.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the South. What are some of the ways that the media depicts this area of the United States? Do you think these depictions are fair? What are some of the stereotypes that are reflected in these representations? Do you think this movie uses stereotypes to tell its story?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: June 19, 2012
- Cast: Burt Reynolds , LeAnn Rimes , Shawn Roberts
- Director: Brian K. Roberts
- Studio: Entertainment One
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 90 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: October 30, 2022
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