Customer Reviews

Love's Abiding Joy [VHS]

5 star:		(70)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I've never read the book but I've heard of Janette Oke. I only happened to watch this movie because my partner's nieces wanted to see this. It was like watching a slow movie version of *Little House on the Prairie*. Funny thing is that Michael Landon, Jr. directed this movie. He seemed to have followed in his father's steps.

Missie and Willie LaHaye have settled on a ranch, along with children and a small household of help. Willie takes care of their dwindling herd. Missie teaches at the local one-room school. Life seems to be fine and dandy.

Soon, Missie's father, Clark, comes into town to visit his daughter. It's a joyful reunion. However, the next morning, the LaHayes discover that their baby died in her sleep overnight. Distraught with grief, Missie declares that she has resigned from teaching. With less income to support the ranch, Willie applies to be the town's sheriff.

The mayor, Mr. Doros, is a greedy and dishonest man. He sends Willie on assignments to evict people from their homes. Talk about awkward moments. These people are friends of the LaHayes.

Meanwhile, the mayor's daughter, Collette, has struck up a fancy to Willie's adopted son, Jeff. It's an innocent friendship that soon blossom into a young simply romance.

Willie struggles with his job as a sheriff. Despite his struggles, he comes out as a natural leader with wise decisions, better than the mayor's. The mayor, resentful of Willie offering alternative ways, begins to think up of a scheme that will bind Willie to comply to his orders without questions. When he discovers a romance between his daughter and Jeff, he devises a plan.

*Love's Abiding Joy* is a slow-paced wholesome movie that deals with faith, loyalty, family, death, sacrifice and the like. Exactly what you would see on *Little House on the Prairie*.

All I can say is YOU GOT TO SEE IT !!! A beauiful story. Very good family movie with great values. Its real life events.I enjoyed this movie and I am waiting for the next one to come out. This movie is the fourth sequence to Love comes softly ,Loves enduring promises, Loves long journey and then Loves abiding joy. All is a must to see. Great family movies and very good Love stories. A family with morals, with a great love for each other and a love for God. They will make you laugh and make you cry. I loved them.I cant say enough about these movies. I only wish People still had these values. You got to see all these movies. They are the best movies I ever seen. Karon S. Howe Of North Carolina

I enjoy a clean story with depth. This sequel has romance, sadness, joy, hope, and best of all is not offensive. I recommend it to those who don't care for offensive language, acting, etc., but enjoy family-oriented, heart warming stories set in the horse and buggy days of the past.

Having watched this feature on Hallmark, it seemed more commercials than actual film. Even though it clocks in at just over an hour, it feels much shorter.

Unfortunately, the story varies greatly from that of the book. It continues with Jeff, now as the LaHaye's adopted son. The little romance in this film involves him. Tragedy strikes the LaHaye family early on in the film. Clark had been there visting and remains to be with Missie.

I was disappointed not only in the film's overall lack of plot but also because I found the acting even more hokey than usual. The actress who play Missie overacts to the extreme in this film. Her feelings are, of course, understandable- but she doesn't act in ways that felt real or relatable. It all seems melodramatic, almost laughably so.

Marty does not appear in this film or the previous, which makes it seem as if she has died. (I understand Katherine Heigl's being in a successful TV show but she has a good fan base going with this series. But maybe she refused because the quality is so poor. If that's the case, I understand completely. I wouldn't want my name attached to it either.)

I love the fact that these beloved, faith-full stories are being made into films but I just wish that they would stick to Janette Oke's plot and not try to make up their own. The missing elements are, unfortunately, all too obvious.

I rated this three stars because I have to give them credit for trying to produce good, faithful, family entertainment. The film itself is maybe two stars.

The fourth in a series, Love's Abiding Joy takes the young couple Missie and Willie forward in time on their ranch. The visit of Clark for the first time to see his grandchildren, daughter and son-in-law. During the visit Clark helps the young couple get past the sudden infant death of their baby. The offer of a job as sheriff helps the young couple manage to hang on to their cattle ranch during hard times. The unselfish generocity of Missie, who sells her dresser set and her locket to fend off foreclosure of a neighbors ranch. The movie drags slightly in spots, and does not follow the book. The series has been a welcome addition to my DVD library and was given as a gift to my 79 year old mother who adores the series.

It is hard to find good quality, wholesome movies these days. This movie has great actors, great plot and is great family entertainment. Highly recommend.

This is a great series of movies, a real tear jerker. I love this series so much, I'm buying the series for my parents.

Found this series in our church library, they were donated by someone. Couldn't wait to watch each one. Janette Oke is a wonderful writer and hats off to Michael Landon Jr. (Landon Sr. would be so proud of his son) I homeschool and thought these movies were very educational for the period they represent and they allowed my children to see what life was like back then. They thrilled me so much I bought the series for my in-laws for this upcoming Christmas. Hoping there will be more to follow.

What a mess! You would think that the Director, Producer, and especially the editor would have ACTUALLY WATCHED this movie and knew a little something about CONTINUITY!!!! Things start to go bad when Willie comes home and informs Missie that he has taken the sheriff's job, the silver star already on his chest. The next scene has Willie being sworn in and THEN receiving his badge. Next, Missie (reviving after grieving over a family death) is encouraged by her father to visit Willie in town. Next, she is shown wearing her housecoat and unable to even do the laundry. The next 15 minutes of the movie is a mess of mixed up scenes alternating between Missie too depressed to think (wearing her yellow housecoat), her beginning to cheer up (nice dress with a pink apron) and face the family death, and her eventual sacrifice to help her neighbor (while still distant from Willie). SOMEBODY PLEASE REEDIT THIS MOVIE!!! Good thing I never read the books or I think I would really be screaming! (Apparently the movies are NOT following true to the books.)

It was a great series up until this point. For me, it has been ruined by the ridiculous editing. Shame on the editors who DIDN'T do their job right on this one!

I went with some friends to watch this movie in theaters after already seeing the other three. It was an excellant addition to the series!!! All the actors do their parts beautifully! The storyline is much different than the books but still flows great! There was no sex, language, or anything bad like you usually find in modern movies. Great for the whole family! A++!!