Amy Adler Dr. Evan Gibbs (Cameron Bancroft) and his son Nate are in mourning. Their wife and mother has died and both father and tween are needing a fresh start. For Dr. Gibbs, he is anxious to leave his present practice and become the head of pediatrics in a large Chicago hospital, a new venue. Although he is qualified, the hospital human resource director is still not certain Evan would be the right fit. Therefore, he asks Dr. Gibbs to spend the summer in a rural North Carolina community, where he will be challenged in many ways. If he makes it through this test, the job is his. Having no other choice, Evan and Nate land in NC, both very reluctantly, for they are city dwellers. There isn't even cable! Yet, Nate is sought out by two curious kids who wish to make friends, easing his initial misgivings. Dr. Evan, on the other hand, struggles, for the townfolks seem mighty uncouth, except for the pretty mayor, Terry (Bellamy Young). Yet, once Gibbs begins to help those in medical need, he grows more connected to the backwards area. Will he and Nate end up in Chicago or take a detour? This is truly a lovely, admirable, enjoyable film for the whole wide world. Its story is touching and rooted in reality while the handsome Bancroft and the beautiful Young make a great twosome for romance fans. Naturally, the setting is rustically eye-catching while the direction is solid, capturing the slower pace of country life. Tired of toxic television and questionable entertainment choices? You can remedy that by securing a view of this fine flick.

mzhuff I laughed and I cried. Not only is this a funny, moving film with believable characters, and beautiful photography, it addresses grief head on. Through vulnerability and community we see transformation and healing take place. Although the screenplay was inspired by the book, Window of Childhood, it has its own story to tell. This is not your predictable tale of widower and son going to a new place to make a fresh start. Unlikely relationships form, people are not always as they seem, and surprises happen. I love this film. The cast is great. Most people will recognize Cameron Bancroft, Mickey Jones, Amber Benson, Edie McClurg, Joshua Leonard, Melissa Fitzgerald, and Bellamy Young. The children, Aiden Mitchell, Zack Gardner and particularly Channing Nichols, are wonderful. Andrew Erin is a young director to watch. If you have never been to Western North Carolina, this film will make you want to go. Country Remedy, the distributor's name for Simple Things, is a beautiful, heartwarming film for all ages. But it may catch you in a deep place in your own life, as well.

Worldofgrim this is a calming nice movie. rare! the performances were just fine. subtle and under acted, which is a good thing. the "mountain folk" had some caricatures, but in the end, all were good people. great to watch with kids, mine, 3 & 9, watched this calm talking movie with interest, just as much as watching flashing zip zap action cartoons and laugh track Disney shows which is pretty much all the choices there are. i hope more movies like this come out. it hit on some serious issues with subtlety and a sense of reality like a well staged play. my kids learned some strength things here. kudos to crew, actors, writing, director. my only real critique, and i hope the DP learns from this, which may have been due to budget & constraints, but the lighting felt a little too even handed, too well lit. but i am picky about that and like my fog machines, rays of light, dark shadows and negative space. course i'm a monster scifi geek myself.

wrightz The acting is for the most part terrible. The story is totally improbable -- that a doctor would be sent to a small town to get over the death of his wife is unlikely. That he would agree to go without making any plans for what his son will do is hardly believable. But most of all, the depiction of the mountain people in North Carolina is deplorable -- good hard-working friendly people are presented as suspicious, stupid and crude. Just because some of the people here are not highly educated does not make them hill-billy rubes. The people here respect and honor the natural beauty of these mountains. Ahtough this was filmed in my beautiful community, I can't believe the writer of this story ever set foot in the mountains.