elmurray414 This is a beautiful story and as the movie states it is a story about "God's Will" and how he know best and how he gives you what you need (not necessarily what you believe you want)and through his mercy and grace it turns out to be more than what you wanted. Every time I am aware it is on TV I watch it. Hats off to the actor that plays Ray - the kindness and gentleness of this man is a woman's dream; even when he is angry. I believe that it is very factual for the time in which the movie was created. Also I wish they have made continuation of the future of Livy and Ray. Hopefully someone will see this and do so. GREAT STORY AND MOVIE!

Nani Chang The Magic of Ordinary Days is a beautiful, well-told and well-acted story. Since the purpose of this review is to expound on how beautifully the sub-stories accentuate the subtler, inner story of Livy (portrayed by Keri Russell), it does contain spoilers.Florence (Tania Gunadi) and Rose (Gwendoline Yeo) as the Japanese-Americans in the internment camp personify Livy's fears as the outsider being judged on the basis of their physical appearance. Florence and Rose are sometimes not accepted just because they look Japanese in a WASP town of their fellow countrymen, even though good people like Ray (Skeet Ulrich) staunchly states that he's not stupid, he knows Florence and Rose didn't bomb Pearl Harbor killing his younger brother, but he just doesn't socialize with the farm help. Livy, being a preacher's kid, is afraid of judgment. Even though she has been sent away to an arranged marriage to avoid the condemning judgment for an unwed mother, will there still be judgment in her new environment when her pregnancy becomes apparent? The first question Livy asks Ray is why he is doing this (arranged marriage). He replies that when Rev. Case came to him, Ray took it as a sign of God. Because of this, he accepts Livy as she is, without judgment. When Livy asks Ray if he has any questions, he says no. In most scripts the man would ask, "Who is the father?" Ray does not. When she later questions him as how others will react when the baby comes early, he is sincerely steadfast in his position that it's not an issue because the community likes them. Without saying the words, Ray exemplifies I Corinthians 13: Love is patient; Love is kind. At Thanksgiving dinner at Ray's sister's (Mare Winningham) home, Livy thanks them for showing her more love in the past six months than in her prior twenty-five years.Florence hides her pain and anger about the injustice and ignominy of internment behind her smiles. Livy hides her pain, false hopes and the picture of her child's father inside her locket. Livy's turning point occurs when as she is burning the evidence of treason of the MP uniform that Florence has sewn for German POW boyfriend Walter (Eric Winter), Livy throws her locket into the fire. Wearing the locket is treasonous to her marriage. Florence' action diminishes the many actions and sacrifices of her family and fellow Japanese Americans that strive to prove their loyalty. Wearing the locket close to her heart diminishes the many actions of love of Ray and his family. Livy is not ready to accept the life of honest love with Ray until she throws the locket of false hopes away.These themes and sub-plots are as relevant today as they were in 1944. The magic is to see and live the extraordinary love and grace in the ordinary days. Thank you Hallmark.

jerseychica914 It's been said so many times, but this is a truly wonderful movie! It's simple yet complex at the same time; so much is left unsaid in words yet is expressed beautifully through body language. Skeet Ulrich was the reason I watched this movie, but the whole cast was perfect. That being said, I think that Skeet was amazing in his role; a man of few words but always saying the right ones. He played Ray as such a kind and gentle soul with nothing but love, and I really saw so much of Skeet's own heart in Ray's heart. Keri Russell played Livy with such grace; it would've been easy to dislike Livy at times had Keri not given her that humanity. Mare was so pivotal in her short bits of screen time, showing you part of why Ray turned out to be such a good man.I absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for a heartfelt movie. It's not the fastest paced movie, but as long as you're willing to sit back and simply enjoy it, I think you'll do just that.

Kwantic In a day and age when movies are often filled with profanity, sexual content, and violence, along comes a gem like this one. The whole family can watch this film without worrying about "content". Skeet Ulrich and Keri Russell do a wonderful job acting in this movie, and the supporting cast is excellent. The story revolves around a young women (Russell), who's pregnant out of wed lock, and is forced into an arranged marriage with a farmer (Ulrich), during World War II. This movie also teaches a few life lessons, such as forgiveness, and the difference between sex and love. An enjoyable way to spend a hour and a half of you're time. You won't regret watching this film.