"The Secret: Dare to Dream" is a heartwarming drama that seeks to demonstrate the theme that "life is a miracle." The message was only minimally Christian in its orientation, as the focus was on a benign universe always willing to open doors for those perceptive and courageous enough to walk through them to discover genuine happiness.
Miranda Wells is a widow living in Louisiana with three beautiful children, Missy, Greg, and little Bessie. It has been five years since the death of her husband, Matty, who was a dreamer. As an inventor, he never hit the jackpot on any of his projects. Now, Miranda, who works in the nearby Middendorf's fish joint, is leading a hardscrabble life and may have to sell the beloved family home.
Into Miranda's comes the most intriguing character in the film, the smooth-talking Vanderbilt engineering professor Brae Johnson. Brae is not only a charmer, but he also has words of wisdom for everyone after a miraculous experience spared his life and gave him an entirely new outlook. He wins over all of the kids, especially in giving Missy the idea of the taffy pull as the pretext for her sixteenth birthday party.
The only mistake made by Brae was in being slow on the trigger to inform Miranda about the reason for his visit to her home and the nature of the mysterious contents in a manila envelope. Part of the problem is Bobby, Miranda's controlling, but well-intentioned mother-in-law, who always seems to be the spoiler when Brae needs a few minutes alone with Miranda.
Sadly, the big loser was Tuck Middendorf, who publicly proposed marriage, yet eventually lost out on the sweepstakes for the hand of the widow Miranda. Brae was apparently living with a woman, and one of the best moments in the film is the revelation that the woman is not not Brae's live-in lover, but his sister!
At one point, Miranda is physically abusive to Brae. But all is forgiven in this endearing, family-oriented melodrama. The last barrier falls down when it becomes clear that the two little ships passing in the night will be able finally meet alone at the Waffle House where they will dare to dream together.
Miranda Wells is a widow living in Louisiana with three beautiful children, Missy, Greg, and little Bessie. It has been five years since the death of her husband, Matty, who was a dreamer. As an inventor, he never hit the jackpot on any of his projects. Now, Miranda, who works in the nearby Middendorf's fish joint, is leading a hardscrabble life and may have to sell the beloved family home.
Into Miranda's comes the most intriguing character in the film, the smooth-talking Vanderbilt engineering professor Brae Johnson. Brae is not only a charmer, but he also has words of wisdom for everyone after a miraculous experience spared his life and gave him an entirely new outlook. He wins over all of the kids, especially in giving Missy the idea of the taffy pull as the pretext for her sixteenth birthday party.
The only mistake made by Brae was in being slow on the trigger to inform Miranda about the reason for his visit to her home and the nature of the mysterious contents in a manila envelope. Part of the problem is Bobby, Miranda's controlling, but well-intentioned mother-in-law, who always seems to be the spoiler when Brae needs a few minutes alone with Miranda.
Sadly, the big loser was Tuck Middendorf, who publicly proposed marriage, yet eventually lost out on the sweepstakes for the hand of the widow Miranda. Brae was apparently living with a woman, and one of the best moments in the film is the revelation that the woman is not not Brae's live-in lover, but his sister!
At one point, Miranda is physically abusive to Brae. But all is forgiven in this endearing, family-oriented melodrama. The last barrier falls down when it becomes clear that the two little ships passing in the night will be able finally meet alone at the Waffle House where they will dare to dream together.