In The Real West we meet the perpetual bachelor and the woman who wishes she still had a partner.
The Real West (2024) Hallmark TV Film Review
At her stage in life, chasing her goals and raising kids isn’t something Rebecca (Kimberley Sustad) thought she’d be doing without her beloved partner. But this is precisely her reality. Raising two kids and trying to earn tenure at the college where she teaches is all her busy life can take. Taking a vacation isn’t perhaps what they should be doing but she and her kids all need this.
This sends them to a working ranch with her family. While there former rodeo star and horse whisperer Jake West (Lucas Bryant) shows them a kind of life some of them aren’t all that comfortable in, but may end up being exactly what they need.
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‘THE REAL WEST’ IS A CUTE ADVENTURE ABOUT NEW DREAMS. Kimberley Sustad stars in #TheRealWest, a #Hallmark romance. Share on X
Bringing back Kimberly Sustad to lead a film always seems like a wise choice on the part of Hallmark. She may not have as many credits as some of their “Christmas queen” leading ladies, but Sustad has many fans and lovable roles in the likes of The Nine Lives of Christmas. Here she plays a role I’m not sure I’ve seen her in but she does it well and with class. I’m not in love with everything about this script, but complaints about a movie applies to anything one sees.
The romance is also one that ups things an ante with “fantasy”-like scenes between the love interests in a moment that’s unusual for Hallmark. There’s also somehow more there that keeps things wholesome, but we also recognize that the things people say have more meaning than the words. Looking beyond just normal pros, the western setting is entertaining, and the camera finds some pretty scenery. It also allows the movie to stand out a bit because western themes are rare for the network versus apple orchards.
At publication, The Real West isn’t readily available to stream, but check for encore showings or for it to pop up on Hallmark+; Peacock does have the film available to stream at publication
Content: nothing to note. If it bothers you, there may be a brief reference to a same sex relationship. The film is the usual TV-G rating.
Photos: Hallmark Media
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