I love watching these silly TV specials...it's a good way to do nothing when I'm in a lazy mood. However, I didn't see this one on TV, I saw it on DVD because my friend had it. I thought it had to be somewhat special. Oh boy !!! It sure is special.. I've watched it twice in 24 hours. And laughed myself silly both times. And totally ruined it for my friend. Like I told him, I've seen science-fiction movies that were more plausible than this ! Let alone the fact that they didn't bother trying to age the characters over the 15 years or so the story takes place over. The outfits don't change either. And the story... Pleaaase ! it's ridiculous. They have met a total of 3 minutes over a two-year period and she tells him that she wants to ride upstream with him, where the only sound you hear is the wind through the trees and where the sky is so blue it hurts. That line killed me ! (I'm not sure about the accuracy of my quote because I saw it in french, but that's the literal translation...) And the Cinderella-like story with the mother ! and the brother-in-law, and the brother !! And i just loved how she thanks Pearl for "everything she does for her" after 3 minutes of knowing her. There is so much to talk about and to make fun of ! I love this film. To me, it's a classic !!

SPOILERS THROUGH:I'm not a major Danielle Steel fan but have seen maybe three or four of her movies. This was not my favorite. I did not read the book before hand but it wasn't hard to figure out relatively quickly, where this one was going. The movie itself was not that long and that was the biggest problem. This didn't feel like a movie, more a series of events. There was absolutely no story development whatsoever.This story, taking place over so many years, really needed to be at least another hour maybe more. It just didn't work here. There was a "This happens, then this happens" quality. Nothing was developed, to the point where I really wondered what I was still doing watching this when there really was almost no story there.What WAS there was a vivid and throughly captivating performance from Jennie Garth as the main character Chrystal. She elevated the movie but it seemed so little effort was put into making this absorbing or giving it any sense of realism whatsoever, that it was quite disappointing and whatever one thinks of Danielle Steel, the other movies I've seen of her work did NOT have that element.Craig Berko seemed miscast but that may not be him, the character development was weak too. The character of Elizabeth, the wife, was developed pretty well though.I liked the scene where Chrytal goes into the bar when she firsts get to San Francisco looking for work but then it seems like overnight she is a major success which was rather difficult to believe. And I REALLY didn't buy that chance meeting between Garth and Berko. But the whole movie is pretty much like this.I have a feeling the book is much better but the movie itself is probably no more then a 5. Five is ultimately my vote and one thing I will say is having Garth in the lead role was a big positive. This actually would have been better as a miniseries or even a television series. Decent but skippable and 5 out of 10.

This TV movie mostly takes place in time-span between the 1960s and the early 80s but you wouldn't know it from watching this film about the enduring love between a simple-minded farm-girl Crystal (Jennie Garth) and a returning soldier with political ambitions, Specer ( Craig Bierko). What I found odd about this film was the lack of attention to historical detail.It feels as if it was meant to be done in the late 80s. The nostalgia of 60s and 70s is not present and for this reason the film feels strangely out of time. Jennie Garth's appearance does not change - not even her hair! She looks as young as she did in the beginning, while her co-star Craig Bierko is given specs to make him look older. It's hard to invest in the story because it's obvious what is going to happen, but what did you expect with Danielle Steele? Moreover, the film feels rushed. It's economical with time transitions and I do not believe Spencer failed to contact Crystal for 5 years, even though she was pregnant with his child. The same could be said for Crytsal. The happy ever after rural idyll presented at the end strains credulity too. Why wasn't Spencer angry with Crystal for not telling him about his son? The darker elements presented elsewhere are negated. Spencer's wife played by Terry Farrel vowed revenge on Crystal. That promise was never fulfilled and thus the dramatic impetus the film promises fails to materialize. Although the film is disappointing on many levels Garth, Bierko and Farrell rise above the stilted script and deliver watchable performances. It's just a pity the whole project had a sense of unfulfilled promise. Maybe it should have been a mini series instead.

Crystel had a fantastic voice and dreams of fame. She also had a love for Spencer who was married. As time goes on they find that their love will always last and they must find a way to be together. A great movie for anyone that likes romantic movies.