THE SECRET: DARE TO DREAM (Released to Theaters USA 2020)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì 

The Secret: Dare to Dream—quiet message movie—starts well and connects to its audience. The writing is not powerful nor is it impactful. The acting is suitable/good and relies softly on Josh Lucas and Katie Holmes. The movie is supposed to show how to effectively use a secret as revealed in the Rhonda Byrnes' book The Secret and the documentary movie of the same name. This film, The Secret: Dare to Dream, does intimate the ideas from the documentary, but fails to be impactful,  meaningful, or even life changing to those who watch this film, as the documentary might be to those who understand at a very deep level that there is something elemental that works for you when you seek it. It's about knowing what you want and moving toward that. The Secret: Dare to Dream works as a clean and honest love story.

Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline 

An engineer helps a widow and her children who are barely skimming by financially.

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Andy Tennant for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Skye Byrnes, Frank Fertitta, Lorenzo Fertitta, Elissa Friedman, Paul Harrington, and Christopher H. Warner, for making the film possible. Cast includes Katie Holmes, Josh Lucas, Celia Weston, Jerry O’Connell, Sarah Hoffmeister, Aidan Pierce Brennan, Chloe Lee, Katrina Begin,

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It is a suitable watch as a clean love story, but does not deliver the full gold standard of the original documentary. 

 Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE RANGER, THE COOK, AND THE HOLE IN THE SKY (ABC Television Release USA 1995)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì

The Ranger, the Cook, and the Hole in the Sky—charming—may be predictable but also is clean, honest, decent and has strong resemblance to Little House on the Prairie stories. The movie satisfies and serves as a non-loud piece of entertainment with no unpleasant surprises. Nice view of some of Sam Elliott’s earlier works. Watch for Jerry O’Connell and Ricky Jay who give sturdy performances. Good work overall. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline

A teenage boy learns a few life lessons while working for a Forest Service crew during the summer of 1919. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director John Kent Harrison for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Richard Welsh for making the film possible. Cast includes: Sam Elliott, Jerry O’Connell, Ricky Jay, Molly Parker, Don Davis, Robert Wisden, Michael Tayles, Tom Butler, Jay Brazeau, Callum Keith Rennie, A.C. Peterson, Campbell Lane, and Frank Cassini. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The movie serves as a low-key, peaceful afternoon watch—gentle, soft entertainment. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers