I was completely disappointed by "Plainsong". It was a badly-written screenplay and thoroughly depressing movie from start to finish. Two young boys find a dead lady they're working for, and also get abducted and stripped by drunk high school jocks. These lucky young lads also happen to be mothered by an mentally ill woman, who also, by the way get left at a complete stranger's house to spend the night, only to be abandoned while asleep: nice, real nice. Their Dad's not much better (Aidan Quinn, where has your career gone dude?), he's getting ready to date all of the town skanks before the divorce papers are written. He's also is a crappy teacher, nice touch. Add the pregnant teenager to the mix, a 17 year-old who runs off to Denver with her abusive boyfriend only to get drunked up and puts her unborn child in danger, and this is what passes for family entertainment these days??? I can't believe Hallmark put their name on this load of manure. Look, I like a disturbing tale as much as anybody, but they usually have a plot, and don't have the name "Hallmark" associated with them. My wife and I watch Hallmark movies because they consistently are some of the best family entertainment available on television. Not this movie, not by a long shot. A special guest appearance by William Hung couldn't have butchered this "song" any worse.

For a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, I was very disappointed. It wasn't up to par w/the other movies Hallmark produces. I felt there was a lack of character development & too many stones were left unturned. I felt like the viewer had to "assume" things about the storyline. There never was a clear explanation of details, which could have been pertinent to a good plot. Speaking of plot, there were just too many rollercoasters of storylines running throughout the movie; which led to an unanswered, unexplained end to the movie. I felt like there should have been "more". Lastly, I don't think the title of the movie had any relevance to the movie @ all.

Spoilers... so scroll down to see review...............Yet another lame plot where partners just dissolve and immediately hook up with someone else, effortlessly. Happy ending: a brand new family. I'm tired of seeing "alternative family" movies. Would have been better if he had been a widow, and that's not much better. The cinematography was par to a Hallmark presentation - slow moving, full of props, golden. There were the usual "loveable" characters - two gruff old brothers. The reason I gave this movie a 2 instead of lower is because of the performances of these two old fellows and the best performance of all the actors - the Native American young woman, pregnant, and dealing with some tough issues. The teachers, boring. The other students, boring. The old lady who dies, well, not so boring but definitely too stereo-typical (even more so than the old brothers). The kids are cute, as kids tend to be. . With made-for-tv movies that have slid down the slippery slope to devolve into this washed out stuff, no wonder I belong to a generation that is jaded and cynical. Writers and directors, wise up.

Plainsong is an excellent example of a book that should never have been made into a movie. It would take at least a mini-series to do justice for this novel. ANyone who has not read the book would be lost for a good portion of the film. Aiden Quinn made an excellent performance. Good casting for the McPheron brothers. Because I have read the book, I had high expectations for this movie, even if it was for tv (and Hallmark for that matter). However, the movie did have a 'simplicity' to it, which is the most credit it can get in comparison to its book. I would encourage anyone who found any interest in the film to read the book. In lieu of remakes, I suggest mini-series sans greeting card commercials.