In 2006, Michael Landon Jr. brought Love's Abiding Joy, the fourth novel in Janette Oke's Love Comes Softly series, to the screen. It continues Missie (Erin Cottrell) and Willie's (Logan Bartholomew's) story arc at their ranch in the far West.
Thanks to the Transcontinental Railroad, Missie's father, Clark Davis (Dale Midkiff), is able to visit them on the ranch, allowing him the first chance to meet his grandchildren: adopted son Jeff (Drew Tyler Bell), Mattie (Brett Cocker), and baby Kathy. Willie explains to Clark that times have been tough the last two years for the ranchers due to little rain and a cow plague that swept through the area. They are grateful for Missie's teaching job.
When tragedy strikes, Missie and Willie's love is tested. Once Willie decides to take on the role of sheriff offered by the powerful and wealthy Samuel Doros (John Laughlin), the wedge between them widens. As they attempt to pull their once tight-knit family back together, Jeff finds himself in a dangerous position as his relationship with Colette Doros (Mae Whitman) blossoms into love.
As the Love Comes Softly movie series continues, the difference between the books and movies widens. In Janette Oke's version of Love's Abiding Joy, Marty and Clark visit Missie and Willie. In the movies, only Clark makes the trip, saying that the cost was too much to bring the entire family. This makes me wonder if the loss of Katherine Heigl as Marty played a role in that decision. Also, the LaHaye children are different in the movie than the books. No shock there, as most of Marty and Clark's children didn't make it into the movies either.
There are so many touching moments in this movie (SPOILERS IN WHITE):
- Clark and Missie's reunion
- Clark overjoyed with meeting his grandchildren and the LaHayes' friends
- The developing romance between Jeff and Colette
- How one of the school children drew a picture of baby Kathy going to heaven for Missie
- Clark supporting and praying for Missie and Willie as they cope with the loss of Kathy
- The reunited LaHaye family learning to move on from Kathy's death
- How Willie bought back Missie's locket she had sold to get money for their friends, Henry and Melinda, so Doros couldn't foreclose on their ranch
- Colette standing up to her father
- Clark and Missie's tearful goodbye
While Jeff and Colette provide the only hint of romance in Love's Abiding Joy, fans of the series will be crying with and hoping for Missie and Willie to find their way back to each other. As the stagecoach bringing Clark back to the train station pulls away, a teary-eyed Missie stands in the road watching it drive out of town, having expressed her gratitude that Clark was there when tragedy struck and having been reminded that God's timing is always perfect, even when we don't know it at the time.
Another fabulous installment of this series. Cottrell and Bartholomew play a couple in crisis well, and Midkiff brings such depth of emotion to his role as Clark Davis. Family faith-based content should always be this good.
- MPAA rating : PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
- Product Dimensions : 0.53 x 5.28 x 7.46 inches; 4 Ounces
- Item model number : 885636
- Director : Michael Landon Jr.
- Media Format : Multiple Formats, Color, Full Screen, NTSC, Dolby, Widescreen, Subtitled
- Run time : 1 hour and 27 minutes
- Release date : January 2, 2007
- Actors : Erin Cottrell, Dale Midkiff, Logan Bartholomew, Frank McRae, William Morgan Sheppard
- Subtitles: : English, Spanish
- Language : French (Dolby Digital 5.1), Unqualified (DTS ES 6.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
- Studio : 20th Century Fox
- ASIN : B000ICLRJS
I own this movie on DVD. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.
