Scout Taylor-Compton is Belinda Tyler, an aspiring doctor eager to become the new assistant to the only physician in Anderson Corner.
Dr. Micah Jackson isn’t keen on that idea. In fact, he doesn’t like the idea of a female practicing medicine at all.
But he agrees to allow Belinda to assist a stroke victim who arrives in town by stage.
And Belinda sees that as her opportunity to prove to him that she’s indispensable.
Still, she considers her own dream of becoming a doctor unattainable, even if she can prove her worth as a female in a doctor’s office.
Orphaned young, she was adopted by her kind-hearted mother Missie at age 14. Her family manages to get by, but can’t afford an Eastern education.
Meanwhile, Missie is teaching school and encountering problems with a student named Caleb, who’s failing behind because his parents won’t help him with his lessons.
She soon learns the truth: Neither of his parents can read. And while Caleb’s mother would like to learn, her husband objects to the idea.
Meanwhile, young lawyer Drew Simpson arrives in town, having inherited his uncle’s homestead. He plans to fix it up, sell it, then return to New York and practice law with his father.
Then he meets strong-willed and pretty Belinda Tyler.
Scout Taylor-Compton as Belinda Tyler, a young woman who dreams of becoming a doctor in Love’s Unfolding Dream (2007)
Patrick Lewis as Drew Simpson, working to restore his uncle’s old homestead for sale in Love’s Unfolding Dream (2007)
Review:
The sixth film in the “Love Comes Softly” series, based on the books of Janette Oke, is a mixed bag.
It offers some heartwarming moments. The dialogue might be the best of any film in the series to this point.
But Erin Cottrell, who made the previous three films in the series so enjoyable, is unfortunately pushed into a secondary role here.
Scout Taylor-Compton, her adopted daughter and the wanna-be doctor, steps into the foreground and isn’t nearly as believable, less because of her acting than the way her part was written.
You’ll guess most of the major plot points long before they occur and likely roll your eyes at some of the ones you don’t guess.
The villains of the piece: a cranky stroke victim and a poor man who doesn’t want his wife to learn how to read, both of whom redeem themselves by the time the credits role.
Seriously, this was a movie badly in need of a gritty subplot.
Instead, we’re left with a film that comes across as a fairytale set in a fairytale West where the men don’t even sweat after a hard day’s work.
Erin Cottrell as Missie Tyler, springing a surprise on Sadi Kent in Love’s Unfolding Dream (2007)
Victor Browne as Sheriff Zach Taylor, warning his wife about devious behavoir in Love’s Unfolding Dream (2007)
Directed by:
Harvey Frost
Cast:
Erin Cottrell … Missie Tyler
Scout Taylor-Compton … Belinda Tyler
Dale Midkiff … Clark Davis
Robert Pine … Dr. Micah Jackson
Victor Browne … Sheriff Zach Tyler
Patrick Lewis … Drew Simpson
Richard Herd … Windsor
Paul Ganus … Charles Kent
Lori Rom … Sadi Kent
Samantha Smith …. Marty Davis
J.C. Brandy … Caroline
John Prosky … George
Tahmus Rounds … Jonas Barnes
Timmy Deters … Caleb Kent
Nancy Linehan Charles … Virginia Stafford-Smith
Runtime: 87 min.
Dale Midkiff as Clark Davis, providing advice on women to young Drew Simpson in Love’s Unfolding Dream (2007)
Samantha Smith as Marty Davis, helping granddaughter Belinda overcome a setback in Love’s Unfolding Dream (2007)
Memorable lines:
Missie Tyler: “You are a natural born caretaker, Lindy.”
Belinda Tyler, her adopted daughter: “Cause I can tell a bruise from a broken bone?”
Missie: “Because you can make people feel better when they’re hurt and scared.”
Dr. Micah Jackson: “Women aren’t supposed to be doctors. What about marriage?”
Belinda Tyler: “I’m not gettin’ married.”
Dr. Jackson: “Ever?”
Belinda: “Well …
Dr. Jackson: “Women are meant to marry and have children. Which is exactly what you’ll do when the right man comes along.”
Sheriff Zach Tyler, when Missie is surprised at how much her husband knows about the Kent family: “Generally, when the sheriff asks questions, people give answers.”
Robert Pine as Dr. Micah Jackson, expressing doubt about taking on a female assistant in Love’s Unfolding Dream (2007)
Nancy Linehan Charles as Virginia Stafford-Smith, the stroke victim Belinda Tyler helps in Love’s Unfolding Dream (2007)
Belinda Tyler, when Drew Simpson lectures her on the black and white of being a lawyer: “I see all of God’s colors. And somewhere between black and white is my dream to become a doctor.”
Drew Simpson: “My father represents some of the wealthiest people in New York.”
Belinda Tyler: “So you’ll only be helping the rich people?”
Drew: “Well, that’s who our clients are.”
Belinda: “They don’t have to be.”
Belinda, as she starts to fall for Drew: “Seems when I wasn’t looking, my life got really complicated.”
Dr. Jackson as Drew Simpson enters his office: “It’s not your hand again?”
Drew: “My finger. I think it’s broken.”
Dr. Jackson: “There ought to be a law against giving you a hammer, son.”
Belinda, about her desire to become a doctor and her budding romance with Drew: “Sometimes, one dream is all you can have.”
Paul Ganus as Charles Kent, the hard-working man opposed to his wife learning to read in Love’s Unfolding Dream (2007)
Lori Rom as Sadie Kent, the poor woman who wants to learn to read to help with her son’s education in Love’s Unfolding Dream (2007)
Darian Weiss as Jacob and Randall Bently as Mattie, Missie Tyler’s young sons in Love’s Unfolding Dream (2007)
Patrick Lewis as Drew Simpson with Scout Taylor-Compton as Belinda Tyler in Love’s Unfolding Dream (2007)
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