THE HIRED HEART is a sweet, inconsequential but enjoyable romantic comedy of a pretty Wyoming widow (Penelope Ann Miller), the town M.D., still carrying a torch for her lost bull-riding husband after two years. Her father-in-law (the wonderful Barry Corbin) determines to get her 'back in circulation' for the town's upcoming Centennial Celebration, and he starts sending a stream of 'available' bachelors (a truly SORRY lot!) to 'court' her. Not willing to 'heal' from her loss, she concocts a scheme; she'll hire a male escort to 'pretend' to be her boyfriend, and convince everybody she's 'taken'...until the Celebration is over.
Visiting a friend (Barbara Gates) in Denver who runs an escort service, Miller outlines the plan, then leaves it in her hands to send someone who's attractive, but "with a few wrinkles". Gates comes up with a brilliant idea; she'd send her brother (Brent Cullen), an aspiring composer who, despite being in a long-distance relationship, had yet to find true love, to play the role. Despite misgivings ("I hope she's not expecting sex..."), he agrees, and drives to Wyoming, to join his new 'girlfriend'.
While the film is predictable (Miller, kissing and platonically sleeping with Cullen, soon feels her long-suppressed passions re-emerge; Cullen, moved by her good heart, falls for her, and tries to get her to 'move on' with her life), in the hands of a first-rate cast, the story never grows tedious. The 'male bonding' scenes between the suspicious Corbin and the wry Cullen are comic highpoints, and while the climax, with Cullen riding the bull that had killed Miller's husband (to prove to her HE wouldn't die), seems contrived, the two leads have such terrific chemistry together that you KNOW things will end happily!
THE HIRED HEART is a likable 'feel good' movie that may not linger in your memory long after it ends, but will certainly bring a smile as you watch it!
