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Chester Story, The

When traveling through the town of Chester you will find caring souls that have been joined unexpectedly by fate, on a night that will change their lives forever. A town where hearts are as big as the open sky unexpectedly comes together for a small group of people in their time of need, as each realizes things about themselves they never thought possible.

Rebecca Cook's charming movie is located in Wilmington, North Carolina where ripples of water wave peacefully across the lakes and lush flowers and soothing breezes seem to engulf the town. Watching it, gets you in tune with nature particularly with the location of the family home of the Kline's. Nature looks so beautiful and peaceful there; it is like looking at a travel brochure. I, too, could see myself sitting on the grass looking out at the water and being so happy. This is a story that can be enjoyed with the whole family. It has a remarkable message of the power and joy that can come from uniting and helping to lend a hand to a fellow person in need. It also focuses on the genuine heartfelt emotions of a "normal" and, at times, saddened place that we have all encountered from one time or another. Those deeply affecting times would be that of death, family obligations, friendships, happiness, commitment to a job and how far should we go with it before it seems too far. Basically, it delves into the journey of one's own outlook on life and who we want to share it with.

Megan Margulis (Teri Hatcher) has packed a suitcase with the excitement of returning to her fiance, Craig (Daniel Green), and making good on his proposal to spend their life together. With such promise in her heart for her relationship to truly work, Megan has turned in her key to the apartment manager and is not going to look back. This time it is the real thing.

Ray Kline( Rob Treveiler) is a fast thinking, speaking, high stressed, and work-alcoholic entertainment lawyer. Ray is making his way home due to his mother's (Collin Wilcox Paxton) ailing health and is not completely anticipating the welcome from his family. Betsy Kline ( Jacqueline Anderson) is Ray's sister who had been the steel wall of support and main caregiver to their mom. James Kline (David Andrews), the older brother and a recently divorced father of twin girls, is not only infatuated with Jessie McGruff (Andrea Powell), a waitress in town, whose name he doesn't even know, but hides behind store windows to admire her. Jessie is married to Kenny McGruff (Gil Johnson), a lottery-obsessed town drunk, who not only has bailed on his marriage, but also to his only child Charlie (Cody Newton). Charlie, as well, has his own surfacing troubles that surround him; he is clairvoyant and struggles with his confusing ability to foresee events, especially those that hit close to home.

With such a clutter of fog that plops itself into the middle of Jessie's heart, she gains comfort in her friendship with Chippy (Rhoda Griffis) whose fireball of energy and spunk is a welcoming treat. Megan and Ray are both in the airport, so close to one another, although never knowing that each one is going to change the other's world in such a dramatic and blessed way. But before that is to happen, each has a traumatic event to deal with. Jessie's world might as well be turned upside down with the traumatic news of her husband and the miracle that was ultimately left to her and Charlie. Friendship and possible love could follow as well.

Teri Hatcher sweetly captivates the screen with her passionate performance of warmth, strength, beauty, sensuality and courage. A role that has you feeling her pain, and wishing happiness to show its face upon her. She graced the screen with impressiveness, and I thoroughly enjoyed her in this role. This film only solidifies her acting range. Rob Treveiler was driven within his character's complex personal struggles over his personal and creative side, as they battled against each other. He was sensitive, alluring and intense, and I found myself falling for this hyper-anal-type personality because when in need of showing his inner self he did so with passion and comfort. A very attractive role by which I was quite taken.

Collin Wilcox Paxton created a cocoon of love, gentleness, and compassion. With wisdom she touched the lives of her family and a new friend during her illness. Uplifting was her character and beautifully performed. The emotions each of the characters demonstrated were with believability and naturalness and that is what attracted me to The Chester Story. The cast, as a whole, caught my attention and drew me into their lives. The uniqueness of the story, the characters within it, and the beautifully uplifting premise of a town's willingness to forgive, open up their hearts, and take hold of a stranger's most vulnerable situations was extremely touching. A wonderful story cradled with love and talent, depicting values, innocence, struggles, and ultimately the power within us to look at the past, see the present, and proceed to the future with an open heart, mind, and soul.

Written by: Lynda Dale MacLean

Reviewers Rating: 8
Reader's Rating: 9.50
Reader's Votes: 2

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