THE SECRET: DARE TO DREAM | FAMILY MOVIE REVIEW INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND KIDS

"THE SECRET: DARE TO DREAM"
(2020) (Katie Holmes, Josh Lucas) (PG)

QUICK TAKE:: Drama: A stranger shows up and helps a widowed mom of three get through her string of bad luck.

PLOT:

"If it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all" could very well be the mantra of Miranda Wells (KATIE HOLMES), the widowed mom of nearly 16-year-old Missy (SARAH HOFFMEISTER), her younger brother, Greg (AIDAN PIERCE BRENNAN), and their younger sibling, Bess (CHLOE LEE). While employed at the seafood market run by her boss turned boyfriend, Tucker Middendorf (JERRY O'CONNELL), Miranda is in financial straits in their New Orleans area house that's not in the best shape and is facing the approach of a hurricane that could make things worse.

On the eve of that, she literally runs into the back of the truck belonging to Bray Johnson (JOSH LUCAS), an engineering professor at Vanderbilt who's shown up in town, coincidentally, to deliver an important packet to her. But feeling bad about the damage to her car and offering to fix that, he forgoes giving her the envelope, fixes her bumper, and joins them for pizza that night before heading off into the storm.

The next day that's cleared, but with Miranda's house suffering some structural damage, he offers to help fix that, something that draws the suspicious eye of both Tucker and Miranda's mother-in-law, Bobby (CELIA WESTON). Acknowledging it sounds weird to encourage her late son's wife to marry someone else, she nonetheless thinks Miranda should do so with Tucker. But Miranda isn't so sure, what with Bray leaving her somewhat confused by his seemingly platonic offers to help and his gentle prodding for her and her kids to adopt a more positive mindset that he believes will pay off for them soon.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: If they're into the book "The Secret" and/or are fans of anyone in the cast, they might show some interest.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG: For language and an injury image.

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