‘LOVE UNDER THE STARS’: HEARTWARMING STORY OF HEALING

An older TV film dramedy, Love Under the Stars is one of those films I didn’t see for many years. Finally we remedy this. In it, we meet Becca Miller (Ashleigh Newbrough), an indecisive college student who has changed her major three times. Finally, she settles (or mostly) on psychology. Her advisor wants her now to decide on a thesis topic and tries to help her pursuit of this by arranging to have Becca work with his niece in her grade school class. It’s here where Becca meets Emily (Jaeda Lily Miller).

Nine and quite introverted, Emily doesn’t seem to engage with her class and is more interested in creating maps then friends. She soon learns that Em’s mother died in recent years. Emily’s father Nathan (Wes Brown) worries that his daughter hasn’t really grieved, but with time, both begin to change with Becca, neither one expecting the impact she has in their quiet lives.

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Now and then, even on a network you think you “know” everything about, you’ll discover something that while familiar, feels different. Love Under the Stars is one such title. One of their older titles, this is also one that you’re more likely to catch on Hallmark Drama or the like. Despite my many years watching this network, I still didn’t catch this one until just recently. It’s good, but also begs more of an emotional investment.

The story has good acting in Brown and his on-screen daughter. Wes Brown has been in several TV films, and in each one, he’s good. But it’s Jayden who steals the show. She’s not only adorable, but also has some really emotional material, most of which she handles really well; there’s this balance of being real and having a hint of humor. It’s sweet and charming, and in the end, may make some of us tear up.

If you don’t mind romances with more depth in the script, this one is solid. It’s got good “bones” and allows its youngest character her time to grieve. There may be some minor annoyances here and there, but overall, there’s genuine moments (including on purpose awkwardness) which only adds to the film’s appeal.

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Love Under the Stars is currently unavailable on Amazon, but you can add it to your wishlist!

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Content: Nothing really to note save for the thematic elements involving loss.

Photos: Hallmark Channel / Crown Media Press