''An Unexpected Love'' is a 2003 American

made-for-television A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

written, produced and directed by Lee Rose. It stars Leslie Hope,

Wendy Crewson Wendy Jane Crewson (born May 9, 1956) is a Canadian actress and producer. She began her career appearing on Canadian television, before her breakthrough role in 1991 dramatic film '' The Doctor''. Crewson has appeared in many Hollywood films, inc ...

, D.W. Moffett,

Alison Pill Alison Pill (born November 27, 1985) is a Canadian actress. A former child actress, Pill began her career at age 12, appearing in numerous films and television series. She transitioned to adult roles and her breakthrough came with the television ...

, Margo Martindale and

Brent Spiner Brent Jay Spiner (; born February 2, 1949) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as the android Data on the television series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'', as well as four subsequent films. In 2019, he reprised the role for ...

. The movie premiered on

Lifetime Lifetime may refer to: * Life expectancy, the length of time a person is expected to remain alive Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Lifetime (band), a rock band from New Jersey * ''Life Time'' (Rollins Band album), by Rollins Band * ...

network on March 24, 2003.

Plot

Kate Mayer is quickly approaching forty, and a suburban wife and mother of two. She realizes her marriage has come to an end after one too many arguments with her husband. She asks her husband for a separation and moves out with her two kids.

Jobless Unemployment, according to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), is people above a specified age (usually 15) not being in paid employment or self-employment but currently available for Work (human activity), w ...

and without any work experience, she accepts a low-level position as a

receptionist A receptionist is an employee taking an office or administrative support position. The work is usually performed in a waiting area such as a lobby or front office desk of an organization or business. The title ''receptionist'' is attributed to ...

for a

real estate Real estate is property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this (also) an item of real property, (more general ...

office. Eventually, she is promoted to real estate agent, but she still has to deal with her husband, her disapproving mother and her children, who are trying to adjust to their new environment. At work, Kate finds herself strongly attracted to her boss, McNally "Mac" Hays, who is a

lesbian A lesbian is a Homosexuality, homosexual woman.Zimmerman, p. 453. The word is also used for women in relation to their sexual identity or sexual behavior, regardless of sexual orientation, or as an adjective to characterize or associate n ...

. When the two finally start dating and fall in love, she is confronted with an angry and confused family.

Cast

* Leslie Hope as Kate Mayer *

as McNally "Mac" Hays * D.W. Moffett as Jack Mayer *

as Samantha Mayer * Margo Martindale as Maggie *

as Brad * Elizabeth Franz as Dorothy * Irma P. Hall as Mary *

Christine Ebersole Christine Ebersole (born February 21, 1953) is an American actress and singer. She has appeared in film, television, and on stage. She starred in the Broadway musicals '' 42nd Street'' and ''Grey Gardens'', winning two Tony Awards. She has co-s ...

as Sandy * Curtis Butchart as Adam Mayer

Production notes

Director Lee Rose, who is a lesbian, said "creating a serious film about homosexuality is difficult", besides network sensitivities, there's a reluctance among actors to get involved. She said Hope and Crewson were "courageous" for agreeing to star in the film. Both Hope and Crewson said they had no qualms about accepting the roles. The two actors were actually friends at the time, and according to them, the only problem was filming their romantic encounter. Crewson said, "I think it's much easier if you don't know the person."

Critical reception

''Kissing Fingertips'' said in their review that the film "doesn't live up to its title in at least one significant way...believing these women were in love". They complimented lesbian writer/director Lee Rose as..."becoming the guru of the TV movie lesbian"... and said the actors did OK with what they were given. Andy Webb in his review said Leslie Hope and Wendy Crewson played their parts well, "delivering the aspect of conflicted feelings but also bringing out the humor in their characters". But it is the "wonderful Margo Martindale as Maggie who brings the best laughs thanks to her natural ability to deliver lines with that aspect of knowing which makes them fun". Lynn Elber from the ''

Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. newspa ...

'' said the "film's tone is quietly reserved; even the one sex scene between Kate and Mac is brief and tame". According to Elber, ''Lifetime'' ordered that a longer version of the sex scene be cut from the film as too revealing. In a ''WLW'' film review, they were disappointed, saying the film "feels entry level". They said the writing is "cliché after cliché" and its direction is "very much point and shoot with little artistry". Overall. they rated the movie 5.2 out of 10.

References

External links

* *
An Unexpected Love
' at

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