Love's Long Journey

Michael Landon Jr., carrying on his father's legacy of creating programs that affirm family and faith, returns as producer-director for his third film based on Janette Oke's Love Comes Softly novel series, Love's Long Journey, a made-for-TV Hallmark movie. Two years married, Missie (Erin Cottrell, who bears a resemblance to Reese Witherspoon) and Willie (Logan Bartholomew) separate from their westward wagon train to "put down roots" and start a ranch of their own. Both know that it will take "hard work and a lot of prayer," but their unshakable faith sees them through frontier hardships and the menace of three desperados, one of whom is ripe for redemption. Whether she's befriending a neighboring Indian woman (Irene Bedard, the voice of Disney's Pocahontas) or getting the drop on the bad guys, Missie proves to be an inspiring heroine. While not must-see cinema by any means, this family-friendly film should appeal to fans of Little House on the Prairie and The Waltons. A strong optional purchase. (D. Liebenson)