Grayson (Houston Rhines) is an actor who has fallen from grace in Hollywood for having had one too many affairs - but he has also an ace up the sleeve, he has bought the filming rights to the comicbook series The Green Oak Guardian when nobody believed in it, a series that has blown up since. So he wantd to use the movie adaptation to get back into favour with his erstwhile fans. Thing is, JT, the mysterious creator of the comic, doesn't very much approve of his casting in the lead. So Grayson drives out to the one-horse town in Ohio the JT lives in to convince him - you see, he things the author's male because of prejudice, and wouldn't have a single moment that single mother Joanne (Abi Van Andel) could be the very person he's looking for. Her father Earl (Duffy Hudson) a salt-of-the-earth guy though, seems to be the perfect candidate. Earl and Joanne decide to keep up the charade, and Earl takes an actual liking in Grayson while Joanne remains sceptical - until of course, Hollywood guy Grayson has taken to country live and soaked in its honesty that is, and like in every other rural romantic comedy, the two eventually fall in love - that is of course after Grayson has found out about Joanne's little secret. In love as they are, they haven't confessed it to one another when Big Hollywood comes to town to shoot the exteriors for Grayson's film - and female lead Maureen (Layla Cushman), one of Grayson's exes, proves to be a total bitch and tries the best she can to sabotage their blossoming romance - which includes blowing the cover of Joanne's secret comicbook artist identity ...

B- movie icon Vrnon G. Welles plays the constantly nagging director of the movie within the movie to rather hilarious results..

Now this is of course a romantic comedy set in heartland, USA, so ... well,. you pretty much know what to expect and you won't be disappointed, and I don't think it's any kind of spoiler to say that this one comes with its easily guessable happy ending. What makes this stick out to a degree is its comicbook backdrop - it's just unfortunate that that aspect wasn't milked for more irony. What makes the movie though is its very natural looking actors givinb very natural performances playing very relatable characters, which grounds the film rather nicely and makes it rather worthwhile.

review © by Mike Haberfelner

 

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