Simple Things (2007)

Simple Things: Directed by Andrew C. Erin. With Cameron Bancroft, Bellamy Young, Aidan Mitchell, Joshua Leonard. In order for a big-city doctor to get the job of a lifetime, he must spend his summer in Dunn’s Rock, North Carolina. Arriving with his 10-year old son, he discovers what is most important and learns to enjoy the simple things in life.

“Itu0026#39;s a formula weu0026#39;ve all seen many times before. Big-city professional gets banished to the boondocks and has to adjust to a new way of life. One could compare it to u0026quot;Hart of Dixieu0026quot;, though the community in that TV series has a doctor already and is closer to civilization. This movie has one common thread with that series which I wonu0026#39;t mention because itu0026#39;s a spoiler, but it does explain a lot.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eStill, itu0026#39;s not as bad as all that. Evan isnu0026#39;t a pleasant character and it seems unlikely heu0026#39;ll become the beloved doc, but he knows what he is doing and can handle, and has to handle, a number of crisis situations made worse by the fact no hospital seems to be nearby.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eEdie McClurg stands out from the rest of the cast and has just a delightful personality, and most of the other actors do a good job too. Young Channing Nichols is adorable, nice and intelligent. Mickey Jones is of course a genuine hick and a lot of fun and everything youu0026#39;d expect in this place, but he turns out to be much more.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eStill, this is not really a hick town. Terry seems intelligent and so do some of the others. The people in general seem real and not backwoods bumpkins, especially the ones with no lines that are only seen in situations such as town meetings. Based on the credits, I would say these are real people from Transylvania County, and it shows.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIt is a family movie, but there are some upsetting situations and a medical crisis that involves blood. And this far from a hospital (weu0026#39;re not told, but thereu0026#39;s not one in the immediate vicinity), some unpleasant truths have to be dealt with.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eItu0026#39;s an okay movie.”