Monica Gets a Pebble in Her Shoe and Falls off a Log

I’m sure this one will get a lot of criticism regarding its slow pace and many references to God and faith. But maybe not. Because honestly what would anyone expect from a Hallmark that was based on a workaholic nurse who goes on a Christian pilgrimage to learn to slow down and find balance in her life? The evening before Easter? Wouldn’t anyone guess what was in store for them with this movie and give it a pass if this kind of thing did not appeal to them? Those that stick with this past the first 15 minutes are those that are either masochists or appreciate more contemplative leisurely paced entertainment packed with lots of talk, walking, praying, nice scenery, life lessons, and inspirational religious stuff. At least the Hallmark version of all of the above.

Popular Hallmark actress Erin Cahill stars as Monica who is a Nurse Practitioner who has just been passed over for a long yearned for promotion to Practice Manager. This is very odd because she is a very hard worker and has been working very hard making herself indispensable to everyone, patients and colleagues alike, for a long time. She hasn’t been on vacation in 4 years, because, as she tells her new boss, “This place depends on me. I wouldn’t want to leave my patients high and dry.” Wow and Yikes. This to the woman who the higher ups hired instead of promoting her. And one who appreciates the value of teamwork. Maybe not so odd she got passed over, after all. After a talk with her mother and a visit to the chapel, Monica has a glimmer of self-awareness and decides to take up her mother’s suggestion that she would benefit from walking one of the routes of the Camino de Santiago. This is a Christian Pilgrimage through France and Spain that people take for many reasons: physical challenge, spiritual enlightenment, a break from modern life, renewal of their Christian faith, and in Monica’s case, to get a grip. Actor and famous devout Catholic Martin Sheen made a movie about this with his son Emilio Esteves called The Way.

Monica’s companions on her journey include a handsome divorced father, his teenage son, and his handsome not all that elderly father who is the same age as their wise and friendly guide, Consuela. It turns out that Monica’s glimmer of self-awareness was just the tiniest of glimmers. Her control freak ways have followed her to Spain. All of them have a lot to learn and no prizes for guessing that we will have two successful romances by journey’s end.

Even though the movie was not actually filmed along the Camino, it was filmed in Spain, and the scenery was a real plus. The characters were all likable, despite their flaws and weaknesses, especially Consuela who was an oasis of calm and wisdom. Even though the morals of the stories were nothing new and ones that Hallmark belabors on a regular basis, I liked the not too subtle suggestion that Monica’s journey was guided by a force greater than herself. Some of the coincidences turn out not to be coincidences. I liked it pretty well, but again, if you can’t tolerate talky faith-based leisurely movies stay far far away.