This is based on a true story. It's 1993 Kentucky. Ed Schmitt (Alan Ritchson) is forced to pull the plug on his beloved wife after an extended hospital stay. He is left with two daughters and a mountain of debt. His youngest suffers from medical issues and needs a liver transplant. Meanwhile, Sharon Stevens (Hilary Swank) refuses to accept treatment for her alcoholism. She reads about the little girl's troubles and decides to help.
For the first three quarters of the movie, this is a rather standard movie-of-the-week movie. There are some interesting bits. Mostly, it has all the standard underdog story material. Swank is doing her basic driven, troubled character. Ritchson is doing the strong, silent type. Both are solidly within their ranges. The movie does pick up the dramatic tension for the third act. I do wonder if that should occupy a bigger part of the movie. By the end, this turns into a good little tear-jerker.
For the first three quarters of the movie, this is a rather standard movie-of-the-week movie. There are some interesting bits. Mostly, it has all the standard underdog story material. Swank is doing her basic driven, troubled character. Ritchson is doing the strong, silent type. Both are solidly within their ranges. The movie does pick up the dramatic tension for the third act. I do wonder if that should occupy a bigger part of the movie. By the end, this turns into a good little tear-jerker.