Great American Family Movies

A real estate executive discovers her great-uncle has passed away and left her a property in England that she wants to sell in order to buy her own office. Starring:  Spencer Locke and Charlie Clapham Image:  Great American Media My Movie Grade:  C+ Where Was The English Estate Filmed? Although the movie's setting is Willowvale, a small, fictional town situated in the English village of Moorchester, the gorgeous mansion featured is actually nestled on a slope of California's Santa Cruz Mountains. The house was built for William Bowers Bourn II and his wife in 1917, and it features 54,000-square feet of Georgian revival-style architecture on a 654-acre property.  The English Renaissance gardens encompass 16 of those acres.  How did the Bourns acquire enough funds to build such an opulent estate?  Bourn was the heir of the Empire Mine gold fortune. Bourn named the estate Filoli , a unique combination of the first two letters of his personal mantra: Fi ght for a just cause. Lo ve

Actress Emma Hutton is determined to play matchmaker for her friend Hope, but in the process, hearts get trampled, including her own. Starring:  Monica Moore Smith and Dan Fowlks Image:  Great American Media My Movie Grade:  B- Happily Ever Emma is a Modern Spin on a Classic Jane Austen Story In Jane Austen's classic tale, Emma is a beautiful and smart young woman who is overly confident in her matchmaking capabilities, which leads to some serious romantic blunders. Great American Family's film adaptation effectively captures the essence of the original story. If you found yourself not liking Monica Moore Smith's portrayal of Emma, it could be less about her acting and more about the fact that Austen's Emma is very spoiled, interfering, and lacks self-awareness, and these personality components shine through GAF's character. In both the book and film, Emma isn't interested in romance or marriage, but she fancies herself an expert at playing matchmaker for oth

Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I wanna take ya Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama... Love in Aruba doesn't play my favorite Beach Boys song , but two people do fall in love, just not to the rhythm of a steel drum band. Love in Aruba isn't new.  The movie was originally released in 2021, but it aired on Great American Family for the first time in February 2023.  It was filmed on location in Aruba, so you get all the tropical feels of a desert island without even dipping a toe in the water or getting sand stuck in embarrassing places. Image:  Great American Media My Movie Grade:  B What Is Love in Aruba About? Connor (David McConnell) is a single dad whose work in the energy industry sends him to Aruba for the summer.  He needs someone to tutor and look after his 10-year-old daughter, Macey, while he works.  Amber (Sashleigha), a fourth grader teacher on break, is the only one who qualifies for the job. It's been two years since Connor's wife abandoned him and Macey (Scarlett