John Raymond Peterson Albert Einstein is reputed to have said "Things should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler." That's what I look for in movie gems. This is one in my opinion. When trying to pinpoint why this movie was so good, I looked up the bio of the director/writer Michael Matzdorff and found the man to be one very well rounded and accomplished in movie making. Matzdorff has cinema credits for editing, directing, producing,writing, cinematography and acting, not to mention composing. He certainly has the wherewithal to make a movie and know what he wants to do a good job. This is an 'inde' low budget movie with great appeal. The script is simply smart.The IMDb full storyline provides a pretty good idea of the setup. It is what Matzdorff makes of it that I is a tribute to his talent. No detail is wasted; it all has a purpose. It is easy to follow and has a definite path; it takes us on a journey we can all relate to. We can't tell where it will lead but it is a joy to go along. There were only two actors I was, and you may as well, be familiar with: Tony Shalhoub and Barry Corbin. They are fine accomplished actors and it shows; without them I certainly might have given the movie a pass. The main character, Joe Peterson played by Ross Partridge is an unpretentious, most ordinary yet talented writer and illustrator who is in a rut, but in the beautiful roughed north country of Wisconsin at Charismas time finds what he was missing in his life. The character development by the cast ensemble is nothing short of endearing by its casualness. There are some very funny moments that come when they are needed to keep you watching. One such instance when Tony Shalhoub bursts out laughing will make you laugh for certain but for reasons everyone could explain only by the saying 'you had to be there'. That's a sign of great writing and directing, considering you later find out the reason for Shaloub's hysteria was in fact a profoundly sad memory from his childhood. There is a romance story in the movie of course, it's a romantic comedy, but it is not the focus of the film; bonding and friendship in the midst of nature's solitude is how I'd summarize the movie.It will leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling as well a put you in a good mood. If at all possible, watch it early on a Saturday morning; it will set the mood for a wonderful week-end with the one(s) you most like to be with. Ladies, if your partner watches this with you when I suggest, perhaps over breakfast, he will be putty in your hands for the rest of the week-end. Needless to say, the mediocre ratings are to be ignored, as sometimes they need to. p.s. Normally I discover musical artist through movies, but here it was the other way around. TD Lind, a singer songwriter I like, wrote the score; that's how I discovered this movie. Given Matzdorff is himself a composer, to have picked Lind for the score says something about his talent.

Feizal MANSOOR This movie begins in Venice, CA and ends in Lake Michigan, WI, along the way it examines the dynamics of several relationships between friends and family through slapstick comedy and some moments of real pathos. A genuinely funny movie which will have you laughing out loud, empathizing with the characters and hoping against hope that impending disasters are averted and yet when the worst happens laugh along with the characters at the delicious futility of man made plans. The picture celebrates community, family, friendship and relationships through a series of interactions that are commonplace and yet unique to the peculiarities of the writer/director's vision. I had a genuine sense of loss at the end of the movie and suspect that the writer has all the ingredients for a very successful TV series as there are many characters that could bear further development. I suppose that is the power of the writing as even minor characters are endowed with enough personality to intrigue. The nurse and the waiter are two cases to point. Tony Shalhoub brilliantly underplays his role but the ice cream cones must go to Katie Aselton and Ross Partridge who make it all work.

TxMike Saw it on Netflix streaming movies. Mostly little-known actors but Shaloub and Corbin give it street cred.The story revolves around Ross Partridge as Joe Peterson, author living in California and seemingly happily engaged to a pretty lady. But Joe has writer's block after his first, wildly successful children's book, and he is getting grief from inside and from outside.Christmas is approaching and the story gets kicked into gear when Joe decides to go with his friend to a very remote, very snowy part of upper Wisconsin, hoping to gain some inspiration.Not long after he arrives he meets Katie Aselton as pretty and single Sif Andersen, working in the local café'. She is sweet and happens to be attracted to Joe. But in this small community where everyone knows everyone else, things will be complicated by Tony Shalhoub as the local Sheriff Andersen, who happens to be Sif's over-protective dad. Also a factor is the grandpa, Barry Corbin as Axel Andersen.(Note, the ages don't quite work out, as Corbin was 68, Shaloub was 55, and Aselton was 30. But Corbin acts like an 80-year-old.) So the movie is about Joe settling into this community and he and Sif starting to build up their relationship, all the while several old issues are addressed by all the characters.Nice, small movie, I enjoyed most of it but didn't really feel like the writers came up with a very interesting resolution. The last scenes did not do justice to all that came before in the movie.SPOILERS: Naturally the ex-girlfriend who virtually chased Joe away showed up unannounced, eager to "forgive him." But Joe has found happiness in Wisconsin, he likes Sif, he likes the people, he realized he didn't want his old girlfriend. Sheriff sees him and her one morning through the window, tells his daughter, she thinks he is a two-timing bastage, but after she sees his drawings, including "Sif, the one", and she sees Joe take the polar bear swim with the natives, and sing Christmas carols with the ladies, she realizes that all is good.

directordesh Caught the cast and crew premiere of this romantic comedy (a genre I most often hate with a passion --think "New In Town"-- ), at a fine old Green Bay, Wisconsin movie-house this weekend. I presumed I would dislike it. WHAT A SURPRISE. The writer/director must be a comic writer or have hundreds of "funny" bones throughout his body, because there were loud laughs (two or more) during every scene! The film isn't so much about romance, as it pretends to be. It's about community, acceptance, and forgiving others --along with yourself. But COMEDY is so hard to pull off. Yet, wonder of wonders, this film feels REAL. And that makes the humor even funnier. From slapstick to comedy-of-embarrassment, from classic bedroom farce to intellectual jokes, all played equally well. The audience greeted it with consistent, loud laughter throughout the rough-cut. No big stars here, save Tony Shalhoub, but all the players were excellent character actors, up-and-comers, and/or stock roles that shone as brightly as the old pros who came on board. Maybe well see more of Matzdorff.