Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Not even bad in a good way

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Dr. Evan Gibbs (Cameron Bancroft) and his son Nate are in mourning. Their wife and mother has died and both father and tween are needing a fresh start. For Dr. Gibbs, he is anxious to leave his present practice and become the head of pediatrics in a large Chicago hospital, a new venue. Although he is qualified, the hospital human resource director is still not certain Evan would be the right fit. Therefore, he asks Dr. Gibbs to spend the summer in a rural North Carolina community, where he will be challenged in many ways. If he makes it through this test, the job is his. Having no other choice, Evan and Nate land in NC, both very reluctantly, for they are city dwellers. There isn't even cable! Yet, Nate is sought out by two curious kids who wish to make friends, easing his initial misgivings. Dr. Evan, on the other hand, struggles, for the townfolks seem mighty uncouth, except for the pretty mayor, Terry (Bellamy Young). Yet, once Gibbs begins to help those in medical need, he grows more connected to the backwards area. Will he and Nate end up in Chicago or take a detour? This is truly a lovely, admirable, enjoyable film for the whole wide world. Its story is touching and rooted in reality while the handsome Bancroft and the beautiful Young make a great twosome for romance fans. Naturally, the setting is rustically eye-catching while the direction is solid, capturing the slower pace of country life. Tired of toxic television and questionable entertainment choices? You can remedy that by securing a view of this fine flick.

Coming off a viewing of a very odd and awful comedy that was more concerning than it was funny, I didn't have high expectations for "Country Remedy" I was merely looking for something to make me forget about the previous movie I had just watched. Usually I try to go into a movie not expecting anything, a sorts of a neutral playing field if you will. Upon the opening scene, I was intrigued and knew that this film had some promise. Within a half hour of watching this, I was not able to turn it off even if I wanted to. The story is simple. Father, Evan and Son, Nate lose wife/mother, Father is one of the top Pediatricians in Chicago. His boss not sure his head is in the right place for the Head of Pediatrics and tells him if he's willing to go to a small mountain town in North Carolina to help out with the Clinic, and get a good recommendation from the mayor there, that he's sure to lock up the coveted Head of Pediatrics position. To the dismay of Nate, Evan accepts his boss' challenge. Upon arriving in Dunn's Rock, North Carolina, Evan and the new clinic is seemingly unwanted, and unaware of the future challenges that face Evan he must overcome professional and personal obstacles in terms of Nate, who is a bit lonesome while grieving the loss of his mother. While Evan also tries to win over the locals, but realizes that words of wisdom wont get him anywhere and he must use his skills to overturn the skeptical townsfolk.Nate meets two kids about his age, one in particular, Christina aka 'Chris' who shows Nate that while the City may be full of bright lights and all, the country is a forest full of adventures with magical powers. The subplot and secondary story lines have possibly hidden lessons, that while the film doesn't dwell on them or preach them, it does manage to get them across in a non- threatening way. For example the romanticism between Evan and the Mayor, while you know its there, it isn't exploited and is an excellent compliment to the overall picture.The acting is brilliant. Believable, subtle and simple. Some featured characters, such as Slyder may be overlooked but Mickey Jones, whom you may recognize from Home Improvement as "Pete Bilker" steals a few scenes and is a good comic relief. Edie McClurg as Nurse Maggie is the perfect fit for the role. While Aidan Mitchell and the rest of the cast was also great, the top two performers of the cast were Cameron Bancroft (Evan) and Channing Nichols (Christina 'Chris' Hudson). Bancroft with a resemblance to Kevin Bacon, was very believable as Evan, a highly-skilled and highly successful Pediatrician that is having difficulty not only grieving the loss of his wife, but also relating to his son, Nate. Channing Nicols, the then 14 year old with at the time only one movie and a few TV appearances under her belt, didn't show any sign of being a "rookie". While not having to switch from emotion to emotion much, when she did, she rivaled the top actors and actress' her age. The film while teetering on the fine line of Country town vs Big City, is able to walk that line and it never crosses it, instead it focuses on the issue that it first showed us in the opening scenes. The writing got this movie to goaline and the acting punched it in the endzone for a victory.This film is a great family film that has heart, comedy, drama. If you watch a lot of films, this movie may seem a bit predictable, but to the casual movie goer you should be pleasantly surprised.Rated PG for Thematic elements and Language. To add: There's a couple drinking scenes, and couple of dramatic moments, and does deal with losing a loved one, 7-8 and older should be fine.

To the critic that was bothered by the way the mountain people were depicted in the movie "Simple Things". I am also from the area in which the movie was filmed. I guess that you need reminding that the people there are smart enough to know that this is a fictional movie and to not take things so seriously. Mountain people, for the most part, are just proud enough to not worry what the rest of the world thinks of them, because they know whom and of what character they are. I know many people there that are truly excited about movies being shot in their back yard. My family is proud of it and would like for others around the U.S. to see our countryside. For the plot not being so believable, that's the sole reason we make movies. Not too often is reality exciting. I cant wait to see the movie.

The acting is for the most part terrible. The story is totally improbable -- that a doctor would be sent to a small town to get over the death of his wife is unlikely. That he would agree to go without making any plans for what his son will do is hardly believable. But most of all, the depiction of the mountain people in North Carolina is deplorable -- good hard-working friendly people are presented as suspicious, stupid and crude. Just because some of the people here are not highly educated does not make them hill-billy rubes. The people here respect and honor the natural beauty of these mountains. Ahtough this was filmed in my beautiful community, I can't believe the writer of this story ever set foot in the mountains.