Customer Reviews

Hidden Places

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

While `Hidden Places' ('06) isn't a Hallmark Production it certainly has the feel of one; strong production values, endearing cast, simple straightforward plot and a happy ending designed to warm the heart of the most jaded amongst us.

The lovely Sydney Penny is absolutely fantastic as Eliza and Jason Gedrick delivers a strong but subdued performance as the new man in her life. They work quite well together and it is their chemistry that raises this film to another level. The supporting cast is also first rate, adding lots of personality and texture to the story. I'm sure you'll recognize a number of them; Shirley Jones, Barry Corbin and Tom Bosley lead the list.

The story is good, old fashioned drama/romance emphasizing the importance of faith, family, and community. If you enjoy wholesome, family-oriented entertainment similar to "Little House On The Prarie" you'll love this one. Gather the family together and get the popcorn!

This film is a gem. Sydney Penny is perfect in this lovely story as a young, beautiful widow with two children who has her faith tested when everything seems to go wrong in her life. There is something about Penny's performance that is subtle yet strong, as well as delicate but very moving. And of course she is such a natural beauty that all those qualities become even more appealing. And Jason Gedrick also does a fine job as the mysterious war veteran with the goood manners and kind ways that draws Penny into a sweet relationship with this gentle but strong man. Throw in the great Shirley Jones as the ever prodding and full-of-faith Aunt Batty, and you have a wonderful story and beautifully produced film that tugs at the heart and delivers such a heart-warming finish that you will want to play this one over again, and again. It is a little "jewel", just like the lead actress, Sydney Penny.

Hidden places has to be one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. It is so good to watch a movie that has no bad language or violence or bad morals in it, and still has a story line that keeps you interested all the way through from the beginning to the end. This is a story of hardluck to romance, and I loved every minute.

For those who are wondering why the PG rating for this movie, well, I'm wondering too. This is one of the cleanest movies I've ever seen. Not one utterence of foul language. Not one utterence of d***, h***, or any irreverence of the use of the word God. Just a clean, clean movie from beginning to end.

The only scene that I could think of that would draw a PG rating is when the grandfather died and they had a funeral. Everything connected to this was brief and something I would not object to my children watching. If there's anything else, I missed it, and I watched this movie intently from beginning to end.

For those who are looking for a true family-friendly movie, this is it. No foul language, no violence, no sexual innuendo. Nothing that any member of the family could not watch.

Kleenex will be needed though.

Fabulous film. Full of excitement. Keeps you wanting more. Great ending. The actors really do a great job in this film.

Now and then, it's okay to pause in that quest to be ever hip; it's okay to take a breath and clamp down on contemporary cynicism, and to let out the inner romantic. So curl up with your loved ones and see this one, do, if you're in the mood for a sentimental, good old-fashioned slice of Americana. The mild heads-up is that HIDDEN PLACES offers no twisty topsy-turvy plot, no "Hey, notice me!" performances by anyone in the cast, or gimmicky special effects, or trendy innovative camera shots. HIDDEN PLACES, boiled down, is simply a warm and watchable made-for-television movie, structured on the bedrock of professional acting and solid narrative. The bonus is that it's also a period piece.

Set in the backdrop of 1930s California, deep in the Depression era, this Hallmark Channel piece tells of a young widow named Eliza (Sydney Penny) who struggles to keep her home and her as yet unharvested orange orchard. But a death in the family devastates Eliza and her two little children and a looming debilitating mortgage payment may just be the final nail in the coffin. But, then, unlikely aid arrives in the shape of a grief-stricken hobo.

Who isn't a sap for hardluck stories? The plot to HIDDEN PLACES won't surprise anyone, but the cast still makes it work, and beautifully. Sydney Penny simply looks radiant and she offers up an intimate, heartfelt performance; I wouldn't mind at all seeing her in more films, if she can just sneak away from her soap opera gig. Jason Gedrick is low key but effective as Gabriel Harper, the down-and-out WWI veteran now riding the rails but who sticks around long enough to lend a hand. And with these two leads looking the way they look and with that bit of spark between them, you can probably figure out how the rest of the story unfolds. The supporting cast is first rate, including the two kid actors and especially Shirley Jones, who plays the unconventional Aunt Batty. Aunt Batty, besides providing moral support for and dispensing a series of practical advice to Eliza, proves to be the catalyst to bringing Eliza and Gabe together. And it's always neat to see Mrs. Partridge.

You'll have to overlook the cliche about the evil banking institution, of course. That's pretty much par for the course in films like this. HIDDEN PLACES is a lovely little gem, and one you can spend happily watching with your children and your parents. Even though the film takes place decades and decades after the frontier and settler days, it still hearkens to that strong can-do pioneer spirit. The movie speaks of putting in that good sweat and perseverance and harboring compassion and a measure of trust for those not so lucky as you. All this is old-fashioned stuff, and tried and true, but certainly these messages haven't lost any of their timeliness. And I'm thinking, we should maybe thank Hallmark Channel for safeguarding and nourishing its tiny corner of wholesome.

I was so glad to see a film that they did not have to insert one swear word. That always ruins movies for me-like in "Straight from the Heart." This is a good clean film. The acting by the three main characters was pretty good...It was a good "Hallmark" movie. I found some of the acting a little lacking so gave it four stars.

If you have read the book...don't expect this to be exactly the same. Not enough time to develop the plot. This is a good story in its own right, but is quite a bit different than the book.

If you like a good clean family film with a heart touching story-this one is for you!

This is a Depression era story about a young widow, Eliza (Sydney Penny) who is left to raise two children and meet a harvest deadline from her orange grove. With a mortgage debt coming due she has the impossible task of picking enough oranges to meet the note. She is befriended by Aunt Batty (Shirley Jones),the local sheriff, and a wandering WW1 veteran, Gabe (Jason Gedrick) Elixa is leery of him at first because he is a hobo and is scruffy looking. He proves to be a good hand and a hard worker. Eliza secretly reads Gabe's diary and becomes interested in him. In the final showdown to get the harvest in on time, Gage enlists a gang of fellow hobos to help.

Hidden Places
AFTER LOOSING HER HUSBAND AND THEN HER FATHER IN LAW , ELIZA HAS A LARGE FARM TO RUN AND TRY TO KEEP THE BANK FROM FORCLOSING . ALONG COMES A STRANGER,GABE, BROUGHT TO THE FARM BY THE LOCAL SHERIFF TO HELP ELIZA PICK THE ORANGE CROP. HE STAYS ON FOR ROOM (BARN) AND BOARD. AFTER A NIGHT IN THE BARN WITH A HIGH FEVER AUNT BETTY (SHIRLEY JONES) JUST TAKES COMMAND AND TELLS ELIZA THAT HE IS GOING INTO THE HOUSE'S SPARE ROOM. AS THEY BECOME MORE AND MORE INTERESTED IN EACH OTHER ELIZA AND THE STRANGER,GABE, BECOMES COMFORTABLE AROUND EACH OTHER AND ELIZA BECOMES MORE INTERESTED IN GABE BY READING HIS JOURNAL.
AS THEY PICK THE ORANGES SHE SEE HIM NOT SO THREATING BUT AS A KIND AND CARING MAN.
NOT GOING TO SAY ANYMORE. BUY OR RENT THE MOVIE ,HALLMARK MOVIES, IT IS WORTH THE PRICE. I GOT ONE OFF OF AMAZON . I WATCH IT EVERY TIME HALLMARK CHANNEL PUTS IT ON. SOME MIGHT WANT A FEW TISSUES NEAR BUY.

This movie was a nice one to watch. It revolves around having faith. The end moves a little quick, but it is ok.