A brilliant film that helped define a genre

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

What do you really want out of a movie? To escape from real life for 90 minutes or so>? To fantasize a little? Or do you want to be inspired to try a little harder, to look beyond the obvious? If the latter, than this movie may delight you. Rare that my eight year old son and I can really enjoy a movie equally well, but we did here. No aliens were harmed in the making of this movie, and you may just have a smile on your face at the end. The real message of this movie, to follow your dream- and to face your realities, is a timeless one for us all. Another reviewer dismissed the kindly old father who could get snappy. In my world we call this reality, and for me it made the movie MORE real, as in real life personalities and foibles. A family favorite at our house, maybe soon in yours. Happy movie hunting!

Routine film here where some of the writing could really stand to improve.Coming back to her rural routes following the sudden death of her mother, Natasha Henstridge, who has been away for many years, hears someone say: "I guess you're coming back for your mother's funeral." Isn't this absolutely brilliant? Was the writer thinking here?Her father alternates from a grief stricken, kindly old man to one who can really snap back when provoked.The film becomes one of a training a dog for a big competition. There is romance along the way with the vet. Harry Hamlin co-stars as her brother who has gone through a recent divorce, but there is still a flame attached.The film shows the cohesiveness of the town folk when they repair the damaged arena and how the dog saved lives during a wind and fire storm hitting the area.Much of the story can be guessed from the beginning.

This very entertaining and heartwarming Canadian television film, produced in 2009 and airing here as Family Gathering on the Hallmark Channel is a must see for the whole family. Top Billed Natasha Henstridge (giving her usual exceptional performance) plays Lisa Rayborn who returns home for mother's funeral, having spent the last 20 years in New York. She decides to stay in he country and help with the family farm, along the way adopting an unwanted dog which her father Clay takes an instant disliking to. Her brother Jim on the other hand is delighted to have a natural sheep herder in the family. Good music, great scenery and a fine cast including Harry Hamlin, Lawrence Dane and Anthony Lemke as Lisa's love interest make it all the more enjoyable.