Mjeteconer Just perfect...

Glucedee It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

Chirphymium It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Edison Witt The first must-see film of the year.

Kim Ren I came across this movie quite by accident and began to watch it. Being a Hallmark romance, I kind of had an idea where this would go. However, I was pleasantly surprised and it seemed to me to be different from most other Hallmark movies. The more I watched, the more I became intrigued and wondered just what road this story would take. Although, not Jewish myself, I am always amazed about religion and how one dedicates themselves to any religion, Jewish or not. I found this element of the movie most informative and very interesting. I would love to see this movie with a bigger budget just to see a bit more romance and chemistry and story between Leah & Jake. I thought the actors were superb and suited the roles to a tee, even the supporting cast. It was great seeing Ricki Lake also. I would recommend this movie to any of my friends. It was just wonderful and left me wanting to see more of their story.

Jason from NYC Found this only recently but it seems that its time has come. This movie can be seen as just a simple story of propinquity leading to love or a tale of Jewish customs, but it is far more. It is an subtle indicator of what we have given up in terms of community and family. Not Jewish in any form but the characters are believable in their doubts and love. I will leave it to to the observant to judge what is textually correct but no one should doubt their reaction to the characters. I wanted the movie to be far longer but that is the Hallmark tradition. Miracle it was as well produced/directed/acted as it was. All props to Lauren Ambrose who plays Leah so well. Loving Leah is a necessary reminder of the human miracle.

Larry W Mayes I saw Loving Leah recently for the first time and a few times since. Lauren was faithful to the character throughout and nudged her "replacement husband" from his almost terrified responsibility to his deceased brother for the good of his brother's name and Leah. Jake seemed barely into the idea of marriage as it turned another relationship upside down in a way that was slightly comical as Jake squirmed as he dealt with the two women in his life and not being sure which way to turn. (Having know a woman co-worker years ago who lived a closely guarded with chaperons on dates and strict public and private moral behavior, I think I can in a small way understand what Leah was going through.) Leah was like a butterfly emerging from the restrictions that bound her to her faith and duty for her deceased husband and this new husband and ever so subtly made the new life inescapable for Jake who tried to carry on his own life as a doctor while being drawn into Leah's innocent charm. Leah's quiet charm had me falling in love with her too!

jotix100 Some religious customs are an enigma to most of us, not having been exposed to them, as is the case at the center of this story. Jake Lever's brother, having come from the same secular background as he, turned into a strict Orthodox Jew and married the young Leah, a religious young woman living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Jake, an intern at a Washington hospital, sees his brother in a dream, so vividly that when he is told he has died suddenly, it shakes him completely.Jake is seeing Carol, also an intern. Little prepares Jake for what his life will turn into when he is told of an ancient Orthodox custom where the young widow must marry her husband's single brother, or else, her brother-in-law must renounce to that claim by doing something that feels repugnant to him. As a result, Jake and Leah, are married. That is when things start getting complicated for both of them.Jake and Leah agree on a convenient arrangement that suits each other. Leah will try to pursue an education that was cut short when she married for the first time. Carol, on the other hand, feels as though Jake is not being honest with her. Eventually they break their relationship. It takes no time before Jake realizes he has been falling in love with Leah, but didn't want to admit it.Jeff Bleckner directed this television presentation, written by Pnenah Goldstein for a Hallmark type movie. It is a romantic comedy that combines elements that have been used in other films of this genre. Our only interest in watching was Lauren Ambrose, one of our best, and more versatile actresses working in movies and television these days. She is wonderful as Leah because of her take on the young woman who is taken out of her world reluctantly. Mercedes Ruehl, also in the cast, has nothing to play. Adam Kaufman appears as Jake, the man who falls in love with someone against his better judgment. Susie Essman, a successful comedienne in her own right, is seen as Leah's mother.