Starring Sarah Drew, Juan Pablo Di Pace, and Cora Bella
***SPOILER ALERT***
Nine-year-old Ruby (Bella) is to create her family tree for a school project. However, she’s reluctant to participate because she feels she has no heritage; Ruby knows she’s the product of IVF and that her mom, Amelia (Drew), has no family anymore. The project prompts her to ask her mom about who fathered her, and Ruby convinces Amelia to allow her to do a DNA test. After receiving the results, Amelia tracks down the donor, TJ (Di Pace), a struggling rock ’n’ roll guitarist who works on his family’s farm. While TJ is eager to get to know Ruby, Amelia has reservations; she’s uncertain that TJ can be a reliable presence in her daughter’s life, and she doesn’t want Ruby to become attached to him if that’s going to be the case. Complications ensue after Amelia and TJ acknowledge their mutual attraction and embark on a romance.
PROS
Cora Bella. The young actress was full to bursting with personality and nearly stole the show from Drew and Di Pace. As Ruby, she had the right combination of sweetness and impulsive exuberance. She was charming in the way she convinced Amelia to allow her to take a DNA test, devising a ten-point plan and methodically presenting it. And how adorable was it when she jumped into TJ’s arms the second she saw him for the first time? It was fun to watch them compare similarities—they shared food allergies and musical talent—and she enjoyed telling him the fancy big words she’d learned. Yes, Hallmark loves a precocious child, but she was a really cute one. And Bella showed vulnerability at times too, especially when Ruby learned that TJ wouldn’t be attending her family tree presentation, something she tearfully blamed herself for. Bravo, Cora Bella! I hope to see more of this actress.
A thought-provoking theme. As did Sarah Drew’s last Hallmark movie, Guiding Emily (2023), this movie provided food for serious thought and stimulated questions and discussion at our house. Should the anonymity of a sperm donor always be respected? It wasn’t in Branching Out. Should a child be allowed to make the decision to meet the donor—essentially what happened in this movie, since Amelia caved under Ruby’s pressure—and if so, at what age is this appropriate? Obviously, Drew’s character, Amelia, was troubled by such questions or she wouldn’t have balked at Ruby’s desire to get a DNA test. And as a protective parent, she wanted to save Ruby the heartbreak of possibly being let down by TJ.
Drew and Di Pace. I liked these two together. Their performances showed the complexities of their characters’ unusual situation in a realistic fashion. Initially, Amelia and TJ’s relationship was marked by awkwardness and wariness. TJ wasn’t sure what to make of the fact that his donation had resulted in a daughter. Was he still just a donor, or did this now make him a dad? And Amelia, swayed by the knowledge that he was a musician, made it clear that she doubted his capacity to be there consistently for Ruby. Even after Amelia began to see that TJ was intent on being a loving parent, she still wavered about whether he should be part of her daughter’s life. When Amelia and TJ developed feelings for one another, the relationship seemed less fraught with anxiety and more playful, which was welcome after the angst. The chemistry between the actors came to the fore, starting with the cloud-gazing scene on the dock, where Amelia had retreated to after being overwhelmed by TJ’s warm-hearted Mexican family. Then there was the surprisingly passionate kiss following a dinner, as well as another one to finish the movie, with all the students looking on and Ruby telling Amelia and TJ to “get a classroom”!
CONS
A frustrating character. Though Drew’s performance was good, I got impatient with her character’s tendency to be overly cautious, especially after TJ was proving to be a devoted dad. Amelia’s attitude was rooted in the fact that her father had frequently been absent when she was a child. In sharp contrast to Ruby, Amelia tiptoed her way into a connection with TJ. Though this seemed true to life—any caring parent would be wary—it was prolonged and bogged the movie down. Amelia was also hesitant concerning her architecture business, causing her partner, Maura (Kaley McCormack in an assertive performance), to grow frustrated with her disengagement during a pitch and her lack of interest in expanding the business.
And a frustrating crisis. Amelia was thrilled when, following TJ’s concert, he revealed that he’d been hired for the band’s tour. But when he said he’d be on the road for six months, this was too much for Amelia to handle. Still, she told him to pursue the opportunity, that it was fine with her. But obviously, it wasn’t fine at all. I found it irritating that she pretended everything was all right, then abruptly quashed the relationship. TJ said this wasn’t fair, and I was with him on this—she was being immature, which was disappointing. This was the time to discuss what their future could look like, not to withdraw from him. As Maura astutely pointed out later, Amelia had messed up—in this case by guarding her own heart.
My grade for Branching Out: B
Caroline Kaiser is a professional book editor who specializes in fiction and memoirs, and she’s been guiding writers toward publication since 2007. Caroline is also the author of two ghostly mystery novels, Virginia’s Ghost and The Spirits of South Drive. Before she embarked on an editing and writing career, she spent many years working in a Toronto auction house as an antiques appraiser. Apart from curling up on the couch and drinking tea as she watches Hallmark movies, Caroline enjoys baking and exploring London, Ontario, the picturesque city she now calls home. Her website is www.carolinekaisereditor.com.
