Skylark (1993)

Two years after "Sarah, Plain and Tall" (1991), you will recall Maine mail-order bride Glenn Close (as Sarah) and Kansas prairie farmer Christopher Walken (as Jacob Witting) are a real, passionate and loving couple. And she has really and sincerely been accepted as mother to his children, Lexi Randall (as Anna) and Christopher Bell (as Caleb). Herein, their happiness is threatened by a drought. Reaching some emotional highs in her characterization, Ms. Close wants to fight the heat and have a baby. There is nothing seriously wrong with this "man versus nature" TV-movie sequel, but it does play like a stretched-out subplot to the original story. Eventually, it gets a little grating. The drought never stood a chance against this family, and you know it.***** Skylark (2/7/93) Joseph Sargent ~ Glenn Close, Christopher Walken, Christopher Bell, Lexi Randall

Perhaps this sequel to Sarah, Plain and Tall does not have the inherent drama of the original. But it is still wonderful, well-done family entertainment.One of my favorite things about this movie is how it lingers on moments. For example, when Sarah receives a birthday gift of a Victrola and hears music again for the first time in years, the camera lingers on not only her face but those of Jacob and her friends and neighbors. Then slowly she melts as we see her remembering how much she loved and missed music. As the Italian aria continues to play, her husband takes her by the hand and they dance together. It is a small moment but one to treasure along with Sarah and her family.Another example is when Jacob first arrives in Maine and sees the ocean for the first time. His eyes register wonder and awe that makes us realize how similar the ocean is to the prairie that he loves (a theme that runs throughout the film).The script is good. The dialogue is believable and generally not trite or predictable. When the drought is starting to get really bad, Sarah tells Jacob she is not leaving. She doesn't want him to worry; she repeats the phrase over and over, and finally getting through, Jacob grabs her hand, they circle one another and laugh and kiss. His daughter watches form the window. It's another precious, original moment in the script.I also have to mention that I love Glenn Close and Chris Walken in this film. Both are extremely well-cast. Glenn glows, and Walken is sweet and dashingly handsome, especially when he dons "town clothes" to travel to Maine.Overall, a wonderful family film. I also remember how my father, who was born in the decade portrayed by the Sarah, Plain and Tall films, loved them, perhaps because he remembered how hard life could be in earlier times. A great series of films. I recommend all three.

The was the second segment in the trilogy of "Sarah, Plain and Tall." That opening movie, with the same title, was excellent and third in the series was very good, but this middle edition stunk.It simply did not have the charm of the other two. The story was too much of a downer, with the family spending a lot of time battling a drought. The young boy, who was cute in "Sarah," was just a whiner in this movie, constantly asking questions in his whiny, annoying voice. Overall, it committed the ultimate film sin - it was boring which is hard to do in a Christopher Walken movie. The film is the weakest of the three segments in the trilogy. Well, perhaps "unappealing" would be a better description than "weak."

Excellent story about a mail-order-bride, Glenn Close,(Sarah Witting),"The Shield",TV'02, who lives in CT where everything is green to the Mid-West and becomes the bride to Christopher Walken,(Jacob Witting),"Domino",'05, and a beautiful story of love becomes a very strong thing between Jacob's son and daughter. These two perfect soul mates, joined together as one flesh, have some problems which farmers do encounter through out many generations past and in the future. Many times we take for granted the things that Nature provides and when it does not appear, our very lives become a great disaster. This is a very wonderful love story and the children gave an outstanding performance. Good Clean entertainment