THE SURROGATE (TV MOVIE 2013)
BASIC PLOT: Allison and Jacob Kelly are desperate to put the past behind them, and the future in a crib. They've survived Jacob's (Cameron Mathison) affair, losing a child, and Allison's (nm1156709Annie Wersching) cancer. Now, they have one final chance to have baby, a surrogate. Allison's cancer has left her sterile, but before her cancer treatments, they froze 12 embryos. Unfortunately, there's only one viable embryo left. After their first surrogate Remy Daniels (Annie Wersching) dies, in what appears to be a drug fueled accident, they are frantic to find someone reliable to carry their child. Out of the blue, Kate Randall (Amy Scott), an office worker at Whittendale, the college where Jacob works, approaches Jacob about becoming a surrogate. Even though they don't really know her, she seems perfect. Her references check out, but Jacob has a feeling about Kate, and it's not good. Soon, Jacob's life is in shambles. He's lost his job, his wife, everything that's important to him. Can Jacob discover what's behind this disaster, reclaim his life, and save his unborn child, before it's too late?
WHAT WORKS: *Women believe the worst about men because men live up to our worst expectations. Allison (Annie Wersching) is willing to believe the worst about Jacob (Cameron Mathison), because this is not his first indiscretion. Women also tend to believe other women, when it comes to the worst in men.
WHAT DOESN'T WORK: *Even though women tend to believe the worst about men, women know female behavior. Kate Randall's (Amy Scott) adolescent frame of Jacob, would be recognized by an older woman, like Allison, once she had a chance to calm down. It's too juvenile, and not what a middle aged man would do. Allison would also know her husband is not violent. Having a bad temper, is NOT the same thing as hitting a woman. These things would give up the game to Allison, not reinforce it.
*Whittendale would not be so quick to fire Jacob. It's basically a he said, she said, and firing him outright gives him legal recourse to sue. More likely, they'd put him on administrative leave, pending an investigation.
*When Jacob and Allison set up Kate, they WOULD RECORD IT! With cell phones as ubiquitous as they are these days, this is not a plot hole you can get away with anymore. BOTH Jacob and Allison would RECORD her confession. This plot hole is unacceptable coming from two distinguished writers of melodramas, Ken Sanders and Barbara Kymlicka. They both know how to write a work around better than this.
TO RECOMMEND, OR NOT TO RECOMMEND, THAT IS THE QUESTION: *I would recommend this to people who understand and appreciate the art form of melodrama. It does have a few plot holes, but it's still an enjoyable ride.
CLOSING NOTES: *This is a Made-For-TV movie, please keep that in mind before you watch\rate it. TV movies have a much lower budget, and so your expectations should be adjusted.
*I have no connection to the film, or production in ANY way. I am just an honest viewer, who wishes for more straight forward reviews. Hope I helped you out.
BASIC PLOT: Allison and Jacob Kelly are desperate to put the past behind them, and the future in a crib. They've survived Jacob's (Cameron Mathison) affair, losing a child, and Allison's (nm1156709Annie Wersching) cancer. Now, they have one final chance to have baby, a surrogate. Allison's cancer has left her sterile, but before her cancer treatments, they froze 12 embryos. Unfortunately, there's only one viable embryo left. After their first surrogate Remy Daniels (Annie Wersching) dies, in what appears to be a drug fueled accident, they are frantic to find someone reliable to carry their child. Out of the blue, Kate Randall (Amy Scott), an office worker at Whittendale, the college where Jacob works, approaches Jacob about becoming a surrogate. Even though they don't really know her, she seems perfect. Her references check out, but Jacob has a feeling about Kate, and it's not good. Soon, Jacob's life is in shambles. He's lost his job, his wife, everything that's important to him. Can Jacob discover what's behind this disaster, reclaim his life, and save his unborn child, before it's too late?
WHAT WORKS: *Women believe the worst about men because men live up to our worst expectations. Allison (Annie Wersching) is willing to believe the worst about Jacob (Cameron Mathison), because this is not his first indiscretion. Women also tend to believe other women, when it comes to the worst in men.
WHAT DOESN'T WORK: *Even though women tend to believe the worst about men, women know female behavior. Kate Randall's (Amy Scott) adolescent frame of Jacob, would be recognized by an older woman, like Allison, once she had a chance to calm down. It's too juvenile, and not what a middle aged man would do. Allison would also know her husband is not violent. Having a bad temper, is NOT the same thing as hitting a woman. These things would give up the game to Allison, not reinforce it.
*Whittendale would not be so quick to fire Jacob. It's basically a he said, she said, and firing him outright gives him legal recourse to sue. More likely, they'd put him on administrative leave, pending an investigation.
*When Jacob and Allison set up Kate, they WOULD RECORD IT! With cell phones as ubiquitous as they are these days, this is not a plot hole you can get away with anymore. BOTH Jacob and Allison would RECORD her confession. This plot hole is unacceptable coming from two distinguished writers of melodramas, Ken Sanders and Barbara Kymlicka. They both know how to write a work around better than this.
TO RECOMMEND, OR NOT TO RECOMMEND, THAT IS THE QUESTION: *I would recommend this to people who understand and appreciate the art form of melodrama. It does have a few plot holes, but it's still an enjoyable ride.
CLOSING NOTES: *This is a Made-For-TV movie, please keep that in mind before you watch\rate it. TV movies have a much lower budget, and so your expectations should be adjusted.
*I have no connection to the film, or production in ANY way. I am just an honest viewer, who wishes for more straight forward reviews. Hope I helped you out.