Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The Real West’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Kimberly Sustad and Luke Bryant as Rebecca and Jake in THE REAL WEST. (Photo Courtesy of Hallmark Media.) ©2024 Hallmark

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘The Real West’.
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For the most part, stories that explore the power of grief and its potentially negative impact upon us, tend to showcase some supremely ugly moments to get that particular point across. For instance, they tend to showcase how grief can bring us to our knees and force us to potentially isolate and hurt our friends through emotional explosions. Or they can showcase how the anger and pain we carry within because of grief… can explode and prompt us to do stupid things. Such as act out at work or work to bury our pain within the comfort of the confines of a bottle, and well, it makes sense as to why we see such things in such stories.

After all, people do toxic things when grief surges through their soul, so why not take a moment and explore those very real things so we think upon grief’s strength and of course, how we heal. But while that makes for powerful storytelling that is relatable and poignant, it doesn’t paint the entire picture of what happens to us when we grieve, and that’s unfortunate. Because everyone grieves differently and acts differently and we should so showcase as much of that as possible in modern media, so everyone can feel seen and understand what they do, and that’s why a new movie on the Hallmark Channel is of note. For The Real West takes the time showcase how sometimes… what we do in the throes of grief isn’t always so bombastic and epic, it can be something far simpler that causes harm.

A feat that this film accomplishes by introducing us to a professor named Rebecca who, has spent the last few years healing from some serious grief. For her husband and the father of their children, passed away a few years ago unexpectedly, and she’s done her best to put the pieces back together, and when we catch up with her, here, she is indeed doing better. For she’s on the cusp of attaining tenure at last and her family is ready for a big trip to an authentic old west ranch. But upon arriving there, Rebecca quickly finds herself dealing with some hard emotional conflict. Because she’s met a handsome and charming farmhand named Jake, who her sister adores… but she adores more. In fact, she’s quickly head over heels in love with him but terrified of letting him in. A reality that informs Rebecca… that perhaps she’s not as healed as she would like to be, and that perhaps now is the time to complete the process to not miss out on something special.

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Kimberly Sustad as Rebecca in THE REAL WEST. (Photo Courtesy of Hallmark Media.) ©2024 Hallmark

Which is a story that very clearly explores, how one of the things that people can do long term as a result of suffering through grief, is close themselves off emotionally. Because that is precisely what Rebecca does here. Sure, she’s moved forward, helped her family and put herself together, but anything beyond that emotionally doesn’t exist. It’s just about the next steps for her and the next day’s events. No time for feelings or intimacy beyond anything involving her sons and that is… just as unhealthy as telling off one’s boss or drinking sorrows away. Because it stunts a person emotionally and prompts them to miss out on so much since they are now just locked into a world of singular thinking and isolation, and we are creatures that deserve to love and deserve to be around others.
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But thankfully, the story does take the time to ponder upon how we heal from this. Courtesy of a journey where Rebecca takes a moment to objectively look at her life, and its direction and what she is feeling in her heart. Which allows for her to ascertain that she is indeed closed off and unwilling to love because of the pain in her heart, and that it will never go away unless she opens up and lets the pain go. Which some might say is grounded in the old trope that only love can set us free, but that’s a journey applicable to all forms of healing from grief. Because those that use their pain to give them strength or hold to it and anger to keep them feeling something other than grief, have to do something similar and all must understand that they have to let go or the isolation, fake strength or fury will consume them. Giving rise to a complete journey for Rebecca.

However, while that makes this film seem to be grounded in dark and tough moments, the kind akin to most stories in this vein, make no mistake about it, there are those classic Hallmark elements here and there are a lot of lighthearted moments present too. Since we get the romantic chase we crave in these types of stories, courtesy of on-screen chemistry from Kimberley Sustad (Rebecca) and Luke Bryant (Jake), along with a supporting cast that add to the wonder of a story that really, has something for everyone. Because if you want a Hallmark romance, you’ve got it. But if you want something a little more, something to chew upon, you’ll find that here too and that makes this a delightful and fulfilling watch. One filled to the brim with charm and depth and fine life lessons that we can all take to heart.

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