A widow struggling to get by meets a stranger who subscribes to a philosophy of positive thinking.
Rhonda Byrne’s ‘The Secret,’ which was a best-selling book published in 2006 with a massive following, has once again reared its positively-inspiring head with this offering of possibilities that change an entire family’s outlook on life. As “The Secret: Dare to Dream” opens, Miranda Wells (Katie Holmes) and her three kids, Missy (Sarah Huffmeister), Greg (Aidan Brennan), and Bess (Chloe Grace Lee), are preparing for “Hazel,” a storm which is brewing and heading right in their direction. Unfortunately, Miranda and her family have already faced a myriad of storms that have left them financially bankrupt after the passing of her husband in a plane accident five years earlier.
As Miranda ties up loose ends at her job as a waitress, her boss Tucker (Jerry O’Connell), who has a thing for her, reminds her that he is there if she needs him and she assures him that all will be okay. As she goes through town running errands and picking up Missy and Bess from school, Tucker, who has stayed home from school due to illness, is visited by Bray (Josh Lucas) who stops by to hand-deliver a piece of mail for Miranda but decides against it as it needs to be accompanied by a personal message. Greg, who has divulged information about when to expect his mom to return, kindly asks Bray not to mention their conversation as he has been warned not to speak with strangers. In the midst of arguing with Missy while driving, Miranda runs into the back of a truck, and unbeknownst to her, the truck belongs to Bray, who happened to be on his way back to her house to deliver the envelope. After Miranda apologizes for the fender-bender, Bray offers to follow her home and repair the bumper. Once he arrives, he finds that the family is overwhelmed with issues and he decides that it isn’t the best time to mention the envelope. Once he does a couple of things to help the family prepare for the storm, he leaves and the next day he stops by to check on Miranda and finds that the storm has done extensive damage and he feels the need to offer his assistance. When Bray claims that he has a week off from his job teaching an engineering class at Vanderbilt University, it is music to the family’s ears. During the week, he gets several opportunities to bond with each member of the family, and although he doesn’t know why, he feels compelled to give positive reinforcement to each of the family members, Miranda in particular, and by the time he is finished with the job, Tucker has become jealous and is doing whatever he can to get Bray out of the picture, including proposing to Miranda and buying her a new vehicle. In the midst of Bray attending the last family event, which is Missy’s 16th Birthday party, a secret is revealed that exposes Bray and puts him in a negative light with the entire family. Once the truth comes out and redeems him, Miranda’s entire life is turned around and she has to give Tucker the boot due to her feelings for Bray.
The entire film is a heartwarming chain of events that shows just how much can be accomplished when one person believes in the power of their own destiny. The family dynamic plays a crucial role in the uplifting of one another in spite of the odds, and in the ability to rebound one enlightening step at a time. Director Andy Tennant has given us a heartwarming and entertaining story where struggle is turned into triumph and everyone learns a lesson in staying true to their own heart’s desires. While some of the lessons are painful, overall, there is something to be learned by everyone about the power of positivity and daring to dream for greater outcomes.
Now available on Digital HD, Blu-ray™, DVD, & On-Demand from Lionsgate
