3 Things You Should Know about Someone Like You

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1. It's Based on a Karen Kingsbury Novel

The film is based on a novel of the same name by bestselling author Karen Kingsbury, who funded the project under her new company, Karen Kingsbury Productions.

"Really the only way to tell the story that's in my heart and in my head is to do it ourselves," Kingsbury told Crosswalk. "And so that's what this is."

It stars names and faces you know: Sarah Fisher (Meet Me Under the Mistletoe, Degrassi: The Next Generation, A Harvest Homecoming), Jake Allyn (The Baxters, The Quad), Lynn Collins (X-Men Origins: Wolverine), Robyn Lively (Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters, Letters to God, The Karate Kid Part III) and Bart Johnson (High School Musical series, Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters).

"It's a story of reconciliation and redemption," Kingsbury said. "Forgiveness is hard. And this is a movie that shows it's possible. And also that even if you've been through the greatest loss, if you can keep your eyes up, you're gonna be okay."

Photo credit: ©Fathom; used with permission.

2. It's about Adoption, Heartache, and Grief

The film opens with the story of Dawson and London, who we learn grew up together as friends but never dated. Dawson, though, is falling in love with her, and just as the two are set to have their first date, London dies in a tragic accident. When Dawson learns that London had a biological sibling she never knew, he sets out to find that person -- he doesn't know if it's a man or woman -- in order to tell them the news of London's death.

Andi's quest lands her in the hometown of her biological parents, who invite her and Dawson over for a meal but -- simultaneously -- affirm the love of her adoptive parents and encourage her to return to her mom and dad. ("She carried you. She gave birth to you"). Dawson does, too. Meanwhile, Andi asks Dawson to take her to the places that London enjoyed -- the restaurant, the local theater, the lake. Andi and Dawson don't set out to fall in love, but, of course, they do.

The story is painful at times, most significantly when Andi says her life was "built on a lie." (It's worth noting: The overwhelming majority of adoptive parents in the real world are open with their adoptive children about their past.)

London's parents are grieving the loss of their daughter. Dawson is grieving the loss of his best friend. Andi is facing heartache, too, but for different reasons. A subplot is the health of Andi's biological mom, who undergoes dialysis and needs a kidney transplant. (London, who was a match, was set to donate her kidney when she died.)

Photo credit: ©Fathom; used with permission.

3. It's about Love, Faith, and Reconciliation

The film begins with a quote: "C.S. Lewis said if you're going to love deeply, you're going to get hurt badly -- but it's still worth it." Faith is woven into this love story and, thankfully, seems natural, not forced. Although Dawson takes faith seriously, we learn that his first love, London, rejected God and didn't attend church. Andi, though, is just the opposite. (She volunteers to pray over the meal at her biological parents' home.)

Someone Like You offers movie buffs a rare experience: a well-made romantic film that promotes love while implicitly promoting chastity, too. (Dawson and Andi kiss at the end, but that's it.) Just as important, Andi reconciles with her adoptive family.

Actress Sarah Fisher, who stars as both London and Andi, is outstanding. (With different hairstyles and hair colors, she looks like a different person in each role.)

The film is the first Karen Kingsbury film to be given a wide, extended release. I suspect fans of her books will be pleased.

Rated PG for thematic material. The film contains no coarse language or sexuality. (We do see London in midriff-baring shirts.) It contains one tragic scene of death.

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Photo credit: ©Fathom; used with permission.