By Tiffany

Opens January 22, 2010 | Runtime: 1 hr. 46 min.
PG for thematic material, language and a mild suggestive moment

Indiana Jones and the hunk from The Mummy have joined forces to battle:

a) the Undead
b) Nazis
c) a rare genetic disorder

Option C – yes, really!

Based on a true story (don’t those ALWAYS get to you?!) Brendan Fraser is John Crowley, a successful business man, and devoted husband and father. Two of his children suffer from Pompe a very rare, fatal disease. It’s so rare, that no drug has been developed to treat it. Enter Indiana Jones…. er… Harrison Ford as Dr. Robert Stonehill. A research scientist who has a theory, a very good one as a matter of fact. And the race against time begins…

This movie is really excellent. And I don’t just say that because Brendan Fraser is in nearly every scene (though I tell ya, that certainly doesn’t hurt!) The story is SO well told, you can’t help but be drawn in from the first moments. Keri Russell is perfectly cast as the loving, strong, brave mother and wife. The kids… oh those kids!! Especially Meredith Droeger (Megan), I dare you not to fall absolutely in love with her in the first 10 minutes!!

I really can’t come up with any negatives here (except, perhaps that Brendan didn’t fly in to sit with me during the screening. But I’ll forgive him, this once!) It’s an incredible story, well cast and beautifully told. It’s a medical drama, but it’s got that mystery/urgency to it. Will they find a treatment in time to save his children?!

For the Ford fans (of which, I am one!) Dr. Stonehill is a gruff, grumpy scientist who’s grown tired of playing by the rules. Actually, you wonder if he EVER played by the rules. I swear, this could easily be Han Solo’s great-great-great-grandfather!! Same half-cocked, screw everyone else, still do what’s right in the end attitude. He should be wearing a sign that says “Warning: Doesn’t Play Well With Others!” But you just know underneath that kiss my ass exterior lies a heart of gold. And they do such a good job showing that in his first scene with Megan. You’ll love it, I swear! Makes me tear up just a touch thinking of it.

It’s not all crying and wringing of hands, though. There are plenty of laughs and smiles. This is a movie about hope, optimism, hard work, determination and never giving up. It’s also about family, priorities, and faith. Uplifting and inspiring. These are people who could have taken what they were told, loved their kids and waited for them to die. Instead they pushed and took risks and refused to just accept the “inevitable”. The tag line for this movie is “Don’t hope for a miracle. Make one.” And that sums it all up. Perfectly.

My overall review: heartwarming, solid acting and a well-told story. It’s a beautiful movie. I dare you not to love it!!

Extraordinary Measures movie website.

You can learn more about Tiffany here.

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