Andie MacDowell and Olivia Williams play American and Irish women respectively. Based on Maeve Binchy's novel, Marilyn Vine, must deal with her son's tragic death on his birthday in Connecticut. Ria has to deal with her husband's infidelity with her best friend Rosemary. The film is beautifully photographed with Brenda Fricker and Stephen Rea in supporting roles in Ireland. Ruby Wax plays Carlotta, Marilyn's American friend and neighbor. I don't think they filmed the Connecticut scenes in the states though perhaps for financial reasons. The film is ideal viewing for Hallmark and Lifetime movies though.

The problem with this movie is that it starts in the middle of the novel. Maeve Binchy writes great novels, chock full of characters, but that doesn't mean they will adapt well to the big screen. Tara Road covers a bigger span of time (approximately 16 years) than Gone With the Wind did, so it would make sense that a "full" Tara Road would be at least three hours, if not more.Because the movie starts in the middle of the novel, we don't have enough time to sympathize with Ria Lynch, who has just found out her husband has a pregnant mistress. In the book, we are with Ria from the beginning, and we ache for her as we find out what's been going on with Danny and his various lovers almost right from the start of the marriage. He flat-out married her because she was pregnant with Annie; we find that out in an early part of the book where he tells a woman that Ria means nothing to him.The woman she exchanges houses with, Marilyn, is trying to recover from her son's death. In the book, we find out he really did cause his own death, and not his friend. His friend ends up getting blamed for it.So the two women exchange houses to get away from their grief. Ria, normally outgoing and social, finds that she is a great cook, and that her romantic life is not over, and happiness without Danny is possible. Marilyn finds herself talking about her son, Dale. She finally cries, releasing her grief and getting involved with people, whereas when she was back in the States, she was very remote after her son's death.I won't reveal the ending details. I do think that the actresses in the lead roles weren't quite right in terms of what they looked like in the book. Marilyn had short hair, and was athletic. Ria has dark, curly hair, and probably average height. Olivia Williams is a much spunkier Ria, and with long, smooth hair. Marilyn, who was portrayed by Andie MacDowell, didn't have the right hair.Ria's husband was not nearly as handsome and boyish, as he was described in the book. In the movie, the actor playing him seemed way too wrinkled and nowhere near "boyish." He also seemed to have zero charm.Much has been said about the actress who played Annie. I thought she was okay. She's a teenager when we meet her in the movie, and she was also upset in the book when she found out her dad was leaving them.Rosemary was also played by an actress who didn't look anything like the Rosemary in the novel: tall, slim and blonde. It was very disappointing to see people in roles where the characters are described so fully, you can practically see them, resemble NOTHING of the characters they are playing.I've read and re-read Tara Road; it's probably a Gone With the Wind for my generation. But the movie was disappointing. It's no wonder this was selling for $1 at the Dollar Tree.

I think the movie did a good job of "summarizing" the book. I don't think it's possible to develop characters as well on-screen, as in a few hundred pages of paper and ink. A mini-series would have done the book more justice. I can see where it would be possible to see this movie, and be disappointed.If you've read the book, you'll like the movie. If you don't like to read, get the audio CDs.This story is a summary of a book with vivid descriptions of places and people. The "mind movie" that resulted from reading the book, pretty much matched what I saw on the screen. The home in New England... well, didn't look like New England.

I attended the Premiere of this movie in Dublin on 29 Sept. The audience LOVED it! It was not the book, as much was "left out" but the essence of the book was there. Iian Glen was the best cad I ever saw! Andie MacDowell was a perfect Marilyn. Olivia was also very good as Ria.Stephen Rea was Colm and who doesn't like to see Stephen...doing anything.I can't picture anyone else as Colm. Maria Doyle Kenndey came through as Rosemary. Brenda Fricker stole the show as McCarthy's wife. The biggest thrill for the Dublin audience was the appearance of Maeve Binchy and her author husband,Gordon Snell as customers in Colms restaurant..a loud cheer came as they came on the screen. I only hope Maeve's American fans will get the chance to see the movie version of Tara Road! Her fans will love it