GAF

‘Just in Time’ is GAF’s 2024 Easter Original Movie

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Great American Family brings an inspiring story to viewers in their original Easter film From Candace Cameron Bure Presents: Just in Time. It’s a story of love, loss, and hope.

Laura Osnes stars as Hannah, business owner, wife, and wanna-be mom. She and her husband Rowan (Greyston Holt) have been trying to have a baby with no luck and a lot of strain on their relationship. Hannah is obsessed with having a baby, but this pressure is too much for Rowan. He decides they need a weekend apart and spends the Easter holiday with his parents, leaving Hannah to stew in the fact that her marriage is crumbling. Not one to turn to God, she decides it is her last hope to save her marriage.

Hannah receives a call from a man who says he found her watch. Actually, it is her husband’s watch. This gold watch has her phone number (land line of all things) engraved on the back with the date of her wedding. But Hannah doesn’t think Rowan owns a gold watch. Franklin (Peter Bryant) asks to meet her to give the watch back. He enjoys returning lost items to people, and has been successful in that endeavor with the help of his trusty metal detector. 

Meeting Franklin changes her life. Together they set off on a quest to find out about the watch. Who does it belong to and why are her phone number and the initials RO engraved on the back? It’s been pretty beat up so they surmise the RO is the first part of Rowan’s name. Makes sense. Why not? But things are not what they seem in this story.

As the two start to unravel the history of this unique watch, they meet several people on this emotional journey. Franklin imparts plenty of sage advice which Hannah finds relevant to her life and her future. What is she supposed to do about her life and her marriage? Has it run its course? As Franklin says, live in the moment and God will guide her in his own time. But he has not been completely forthcoming with Hannah, so they both have a lot to learn from each other.

Their journey leads them from one person to another as they search for the answers to the mystery of the watch. Who would engrave a telephone number on their watch? That in itself is unusual. But also, why does it have the date of her anniversary as well? The clues unravel as the story takes Hannah on a journey of discovery and hope for her life. She finally learns to let go of things that are distressing and give them over to God. Yes, this is a religious movie, after all. It’s the 2024 Easter film from Great American Family. And yes, this is an engaging story with a happy ending for everyone.

From Executive Producer Candace Cameron Bure, Just in Time premieres March 26, 2024 on Great American Family. 

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

Images Courtesy Great American Family

‘Swing Into Romance’ on GAF

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Danica McKellar is joined by David Haydn-Jones in this new romantic tale of life, love, and family. Coming from Great American Family, you know it’s going to be a warm and fuzzy film, and with McKellar you also know there will be plenty of sweet scenes. Swing Into Romance takes viewers from a country farm to a dancing competition where everything is at stake – including not only the farm but also the lives of two of the competitors, namely Christine Sims (McKellar).

Eight years ago Christine and her Russian dance partner/fiancé were at the top of their game. Going for their third championship just didn’t work out so when things fell apart in their final dancing competition, it also fell apart for their engagement. They went their separate ways and Christine went back to college to complete her business degree. Now, before beginning her new job – with a corner office – in Seattle, Christine decides to take a few weeks off and visit her home town, reacquaint herself with old friends, and help her parents in their general store. When she discovers they might lose the store due to financial difficulties, she begrudgingly dusts off her dancing shoes to attempt to win the competition and the prize money which would save the family store.

So, who will be her dance partner? Will it be her old fiancé with whom she has a past and a great dancing relationship or will it be her new “friend” Matthew, who just happens to have volunteered for the job. The prize money is on the line but even if they lose, between Matthew’s CPA and Christine’s MBA, they’re sure to find a solution to save the general store and her family’s farm.

McKellar is adorable and fun to watch as she struts her stuff on the dance floor. Just watching her graceful moves and especially her big, energetic smile is enough to put a swing into your own hearts and minds. It is a fun little story of losing something important in one’s life, starting fresh, rediscovering an enjoyment that was lost a long time ago, and also discovering a brand new love. Well, what do you expect from a GAC film –  a nice story with an enjoyable cast, and possibly a little toe-tapping along the way.  Plus, the fact that McKellar was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars adds to her professional dance moves on the dance floor. Also, professional dancer Gleb Savchenko, plays Sims’ ex-dancing partner and former fiancé.

Swing Into Romance premieres October 7, 2023 on Great American Family, TV’s fastest growing network for 11 straight months.

 

About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

‘A Harvest Homecoming’ premieres on GAF

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

The new fall drama movie, A Harvest Homecoming, is filled with family antics as Drew Granger and his sister Della (Trevor Donavan and Sarah Fisher) come back to their childhood home in Chestnut Hollow for different reasons. When they get there they learn their parents are planning on expanding their orchard and mill instead of retiring. This is news to the siblings.

Drew has come back for a two-week temporary job substituting at the local school, and Della has come home because she is undecided about her future. Drew figures he will spend some time with his family, work the two weeks, then leave for greener pastures. What he doesn’t plan on is Lainie (Jessica Lowndes), the woman his parents just hired to help expand their family business. 

Drew and Lainie get off to a rocky start, but with her son Aiden in Drew’s class, they see more of each other than they originally planned. Plus, Drew befriends the lad who has just moved to town and doesn’t know anyone. Drew and Aiden become pals, and at the same time the relationship between Drew and Lainie takes on a new dimension. This was not in Drew’s plan. He was not supposed to fall in love. He had a strict roadmap for his life and she was definitely not part of it.

So, what is a guy to do? Follow his dreams or his heart? Or will they merge and become one?

Well, this being a wholesome family story on GAF, we all know what the outcome will be. After all, that is why we turn into this network, for wholesome, family entertainment. But the way their relationship grows has some cute aspects. And while the family business is expanding, both siblings feel more comfortable with their parents’ decision.

Both Lowndes and Donovan are also executive producers on the film. And, quite frankly, their pairing on screen is perfect. They make an attractive couple whose cuteness is matched by their own desires to do what is best for their families. After all, Lainie comes with Aiden. It’s a two-fer situation.

This is a sweet little film for the fall season. Every set is decked out in fall colors with plenty of leaves decorating the walls and everywhere. (I defy anyone to try to guess how many orange leaves the set decorators used in the making of this film.) Plus the fall scenery with all the fall colors makes a great backdrop for this story of leaving the old dreams behind and making new ones.

A Harvest Homecoming premieres Saturday, September 30, 2023 on GAF. It is a good way to bring in the fall season. 

About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.