Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman: The Movie (1999)

If you never watched the weekly 6 season show in the early 90s, you will still enjoy this movie. If you are an avid fan, you may feel a bit let down in what appears to be a halfhearted attempt at bringing the fans closure and justice after the network suddenly and outrageously canceled this well loved show. The script is plot driven, (and the plot is lazy) rather than character driven and this causes a let down much the same way as the Bobby Ewing Returns in the Shower episode of Dallas (for anyone old enough to remember that one). Spoiler Alert: Strangely missing are key characters. I understand that often actors cannot or do not want to reprise roles however, when this happens there should be a plausible explanation as to the character's whereabouts. Hank, sole owner of the Golden Nugget is missing with no explanation even after a rather long and pointless scene in the Gold Nugget. Jake's wife does not appear and no explanation is given. Robert E and Grace, were pregnant when we last left Colorado Springs, about two years prior but there is no reference to the baby although ample opportunities in the script could have been used.Speaking of babies, wasn't Dr. Mike also pregnant as the season ended? Matthew is gone, Colleen is hanging out with The Queen of England (really? Seriously? How is she even out of med school yet? ) There is no sheriff even tho there is a shooting and kidnapping in town. It is almost like the writers never watched the original series which astonishingly always found a way to bring up past events and individual character's behaviors in the series and was amazing at incorporating the same social issues we deal with today but set comfortably in the 1870s. I was glad to see that Joe Lando, even in a horrible wig, still smoldered and was able to emote powerful emotions at the assumed death of their daughter Katie. Using the right amount of barely restrained emotion while clearly feeling his despondency over the death of their child were almost palpable. He even manages to pull off some really horrible dialogue. I've always thought he was such a good actor-on screen anyway, he just dominates any scene-I can't understand why he is not cast in more movies. I truly expected to see him in a Nicholas Sparks movie. Despite Sully's horrible wig and Dr. Mike's overly made up face and eyes and a few other points of continuity and storyline, I would watch it again and highly recommend it. This was such a great series and the movie is worth watching for the same reasons, good clean entertainment, family values, romance, drama; the elements are all there. I just wish the script had allowed for all the characters to stay in town, talk to and about each other and let us live in Colorado Springs one more time.

I did not really enjoy this movie or find it engaging, but my interest in the show waned sometimes too.I was incredulous to aspects of the plot, which I don't want to spoil. I did predict where it was going, but was briefly distressed by where it might have gone.I found the acting mostly dull, and I was disappointed with missing characters and other things from the series. I felt Michaela and Sully in particular were a bit cold, and they had unrealistic but not particularly passionate arguments. There were two brief moments I remember finding their performances compelling. There honestly wasn't much dialogue... I would've have appreciated some more, to further explain certain situations. It was written by someone who worked on the series, but seemingly not towards the end of the show, which may explain why some things were missing. I think it needed more involvement from Beth Sullivan (she's merely listed as creating the characters)Sidenote : Sully's hair must be a wig.

After watching DQMW, The Movie, I thought of all the series episodes that led up to it. The movie was great - even for those who might never have experienced the six years of the evolving story of Dr. Mike and Sully. To us, the consummate fans, the missing factor was the gap, the three years of missing documentation of those years and a few missing cast members. Since CBS has given them a go-ahead for a second movie, I hope that it will get better promotion and become a real audience grabber leading to a string of 2 hour specials. Matlock and Columbo did it as did Cagney and Lacey.

I can't believe it, I finally get to see Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman on Saturday night again. And in its rightful time slot too. This is the best show there ever was on television and the fans miss it tremendously. I have not watched CBS network since DQMW was taken off the air. This movie is a continuation of the lives of our beloved family and townsfolk of Colorado Springs that we have missed so much. It is a great movie just like the series was. I hope there will be many many more movies of this nature and better yet, bring the series back. With all the violence in the schools involving disturbed young people, we do not need all the violent shows on TV for them to get ideas from. Dr. Quinn was a family show and this movie is true to that value. We love you Dr. Quinn and Beth Sullivan. Please bring us more movies of Dr. Quinn of this caliber. A VERY DEVOTED AND HAPPY FAN