BoardChiri Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

Comwayon A Disappointing Continuation

Robert Joyner The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Jerrie It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

respighi-27000 "Feel-good" movies are much like the classic pop love songs of the 30's & 40's: they're aspirational---that is, such depth/perfection of love is probably not achievable, but we'd like to believe it is. Hence, why complain about realism and accuracy, as though Hollywood routinely trades in those commodities and "Loving Leah" is an exception. We want to believe it's possible and there is no harm in doing so.That being said, this is about as well-acted a TV movie as you're likely to see: Harris Yulin as the Rabbi, Susie Essman & Mercedes Ruehl as the stereotypical yet lovable Jewish mamas, Natasha Lyonne as Leah's older sister (her wide-eyed look from the cab at the film's end is classic), Christy Pusz as Jake's girlfriend (the look on her face when she first meets Leah at the party perfectly communicates that she suddenly understands why Jake refused to let her go...), Tonye Patano cute-as-the-dickens in her small role as Emily, and, of course, Adam Kaufman terrific as Jake.However, Lauren Ambrose IS this movie, appropriate since she plays the title character. Possessed of what my late mother called "natural beauty" (i.e. a haunting combination of outer & inner beauty), those incredible eyes communicate at least as much as her spoken lines. She is that captivating (to men) combination of fire & ice: (Jake: "You're not what I expected...'Ya got sh-punk, Kid'...Bogart"), formidable yet breakable, assertive yet unsure, a budding feminist yet desiring the love of a man. Her facial expressions when Jake first introduces her as "my wife, Leah", when she gives him that "come hither" look as they're silently standing in the doorway, at the very end when he places the ring back on her finger---all are testimonials to her superb acting ability. She is the quintessential Jewish (or Gentile, for that matter) "girl next door".And, as an aside, the two kissing scenes between Leah & Jake are among the most tender I've ever seen---passionate yet non-sexual (yes, I realize that their first sexual encounter followed the first scene). It's so refreshing to see kissing express love rather that merely lust, where the characters start ripping one another's clothes off. None of that here---what happened in the bedroom is left to one's imagination, just as it used to be when Hollywood had a measure of restraint.And Jeff Beal's musical score (complete with klezmer clarinet at times) adds a great deal to many scenes, even though for my tastes it is just a tad too much reminiscent of Schindler's List...In short, feel-good movies are feel-good movies, but some are memorable and should stay around while others should not only be quickly forgotten but never should have been made in the first place. This one belongs firmly if the former category...

rivkama The basic plot about a young religious widow whose unobservant brother in law decides to "fake" marry her because he misunderstands Yibum / Halitzah (which by the way -almost always Halitzah- is still practiced and the brother in law doesn't have to be single ) and feels guilty about having lost contact with his suddenly deceased Religious "rabbi" (not all religious Jews are Rabbis) brother. Leah the widow agrees because she sees it as an option to get more freedom and control over her life - her mother is pressuring her to remarry and doesn't approve of her wanting to go to collage. This part of the plot while unusual could be believable. As a religious Jew, I found an number things unrealistic or overly omitted. Firstly no mention of Jake's (or anyone's) need to say Kaddish (a prayer in affirming g-d in honor of the dead) for his brother. Little things - like when did Leah change the dishes so she could eat off them and cook in his kitchen. But most unrealistic that Leah would go to a reform synagogue and spend Shabbat with a reform Rabbi woman or not(Reform Jews do not observe the Sabbath in a way Leah would /could identify with and generally do not keep kosher). Judaism is a very family and community based religion. While Leah might have wanted more freedom and might there for have avoided the very closed orthodox type of community she came from... it is more logical and reasonable for her to join a modern orthodox -young Israel community or at lest a conservative synagogue. She apparently found kosher food stores and a kosher Chinese restaurant. Also was a lack of spiritual growth in Jake that could make the meeting of their worlds and hearts more realistic. Again the film and acting was quite good but had there been more development of the growth and changes that were bringing Leah and Jake together it could have been much ,much better.

Xjayhawker First, I would like to thank Hallmark for putting on this movie because in doing so they took a chance that people could actually relate..and not be afraid to throw in a story with a religious element..the old adage is never talk about politics or religion. While it is true that we delve into some fundamental issues of the Jewish faith, this is first and foremost a story of friendship offered and love found. One review called this a romantic comedy..others found faults here and there but there will always be those that look for some shortcomings. I see this as a tender story of two people discovering that they have much to offer each other after Jake's brother dies leaving a widow. She has her ways steeped in tradition and Jake has his ways..not being home much and a girlfriend and working long hours at the hospital..did I mention that his girlfriend initially encouraged Jake (Adam Kaufman) to befriend the young widow (Lauren Ambrose)?After all, she's family. The first days and weeks thrown together as "roommates" are played in such a realistic and touching way, you are drawn into "their" story..and it is theirs and the memory of his dead brother..and mothers wanting what's right for their kids..this is a sweet, innocent and tender. Telling of simple love..there's no comedy here..but the facial expressions and the eyes say this is really some fine acting..I waited for this to come on and was not disappointed. And neither will you.It's that good.

edwagreen In the orthodox Jewish faith, when a man dies, the wife is supposed to marry his single brother, if there is any. In order to avoid such a marriage, there is a nasty ritual that the man and woman has to go through.This is the case in "Loving Leah." The film is somewhat unrealistic. An orthodox woman would not just take up with her brother-in-law as the film seems to suggest. When he calls her on Friday night, he should have realized that she'd never answer the phone and as for the sleeping arrangements made with the arrival of her mother, forget it, it doesn't happen like that. In addition, the prospective mother-in-law would never have a change to a more modern attitude in invoking the Lord's name for justification.All of the above being said, the movie is still a very interesting one and becomes extremely poignant at the end as the unveiling of the stone for the deceased draws near.The film tries to succeed in attempting to reconcile assimilation with accommodation here. Sociologists would have an absolute ball with this film.The film is still quite memorable and open to a lot of discussion. Some people may need to see it twice for a better understanding.