Product Details

• Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Dolby
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0026RX2VE
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #39,560 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

A handsome Washington, D.C. doctor and a young New York woman fall in love at an unusual time...after they get married. Leah Lever is married to an Orthodox rabbi, Benjamin Lever, whose brother, Jake is a successful cardiologist and a non-practicing Jew. Jake is stunned when Benjamin dies suddenly, but not as stunned as when he is told that, under an ancient Jewish Law, he is expected to marry the childless Leah to carry on Benjamin's name. The only alternative is to go through a ceremony where Jake must deny his brother's existence. For Jake, that's unthinkable, so impulsively he suggests to Leah that they get married and maintain a secretly platonic relationship. Eager to pursue her own dreams, Leah gladly accepts. Their oversimplified plan to live separate lives under the same roof proves challenging when Leah's suspicious mother shows up unexpectedly. The harder they try to disguise their "pretend" marriage, the more their appreciation for each other's worlds grows - and out of understanding, a real love develops. Loving Leah is a heart-warming story with moments of gently humor. Starring Lauren Ambrose, Adam Kaufman, Susie Essman, Ricki Lake, and Mercedes Ruehl.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and educational, May 16, 2009

By 

Anne Ferber "Storylover" (usa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Loving Leah: Hallmark Hall of Fame Gold Crown Collector's Edition (DVD)

This movie demonstrated, in a very interesting and well-acted film, the unusual custom, amoung orthodox Jews, of marriage between a man and the widow of his brother, in order to keep the name and family going. Being Hallmark, it was a little sappy, but quite enjoyable as the "couple" out of mutual respect, learn to really care about each other and see their lives differently as a result of this unusual arrangement.

I would love to buy this DVD, but the price is much too exhorbitant for a single movie.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sure, the ending is predictable, but it is fun getting there, August 28, 2009

By 

J. Olsen (UT, United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Loving Leah: Hallmark Hall of Fame Gold Crown Collector's Edition (DVD)

Here we have the age-old theme of a marriage of convenience, and we all know what happens to those in most fictional settings. But the twists and turns this story takes along the way make it an entertaining journey. The characters are colorful and interesting, from the stereotypical Jewish mother, to the outspoken housekeeper that befriends Leah. It is fun to see Leah find herself as she moves away from the Orthodox community, but that in and of itself may present a problem for some viewers. The idea that she has to compromise the teachings of her faith to find happiness may not set well with everyone, though her own mother does appear to eventually come to terms with it.
But the story isn't all smooth sailing. The handsome young doctor marries his sister-in-law because otherwise he would have had to participate in a ceremony that would have denied the existence of his brother, whom he had loved deeply as a child, but hadn't found common ground with as an adult before he died. His fiancee is not too happy with the new arrangement and issues an ultimatum. He promises to tell Leah that she needs to move out, but can't seem to find the right moment. When he finally realizes he loves Leah he struggles with feelings that he is somehow betraying his brother by doing so. That is when Leah decides to leave him.
*Spoiler Alert*
When you see the picture on the cover it seems that is spoiler enough, but in case that didn't give it away for you, they do eventually work out their issues and get back together for real. So if you would enjoy a story where a sweet, unassuming, but sometimes feisty young woman wins the affection of a successful and attractive young doctor, then this may be right up your alley.
Pretty much family friendly--there are a couple of kissing scenes that lean toward the passionate side. They do share a bed in one scene when they are trying to convince Leah's mother that they are "really married", but they are fully pajama-clad, have pillows as a barrier between them--and, after all, they are married. When they do finally realize they love each other you see them in the kitchen doorway in a passionate embrace one minute and the next thing you see is Leah coming out of his bedroom in her nightie the next morning as he is fixing her breakfast. The implication is clear that now they are "really married."
An earlier reviewer quoted some favorite lines--I'll add another one.
"Dude, it was so much easier when you dated non-relatives."

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Romance with a bit of culture, July 22, 2009

By 

Lia Smurf (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Loving Leah: Hallmark Hall of Fame Gold Crown Collector's Edition (DVD)

I liked this movie because it gave a "bird's-eye" view of culture. Few fiction writers give insight into the culture and delves into relationships of the Orthodox Jewish faith, except for the movie "A Stranger Among Us" and Faye Kellerman's fictional characters, Rina Lazurus and Peter Decker. It is rare that storylines deal with the culture (woman with shaved hair, "sheitel" headcovering) This movie mildly mentions a few areas which aroused curiosity as to the reason behind some of the customs. The movie is refreshing, not long, but has a balanced amount of romance and thought-provoking concepts and culture that makes it pleasantly worthwhile viewing. It is a well-done Hallmark movie.