'Murphy's Romance' Airs Sunday On getTV

Maybe it's just my creeping and unsuccessful battle with aging, but when it comes to rom-coms, I find myself being drawn to the classics. I'm not drawn to stories about lovesick Manhattan singles or cynical young professionals struggling to find "the one" in a cold and deceitful world. I love the old style romantic comedies. The ones where average people living small lives manage to find each other. In a lot of modern rom-coms, love is seen as an almost impossible quest. But the reality is that we find love in the strangest of ways. The best romances come not from an app or an endless marathon of clubs. Love comes when you least expect it. And despite what you see in a lot of movies, most people who fall in love don't possess model-like looks and an endless supply of disposable income. Romance is falling in love with someone who's not your type. Falling in love when it's not convenient and when the act of opening your heart is not seen as dangerous, but as the logical consequence of living your life.

If the 1985 film "Murphy's Romance" isn't my favorite romantic movie of all time, it's not any lower than #2 on the list. It's the perfect synthesis of great acting, a script that allows the characters to find each other and a location that doesn't get in the way of the story. It's airing Sunday night on diginet getTV and while there are a lot of things you could be watching on a busy night of television, I guarantee you couldn't pick anything more optimistic and sweet.

Sally Fields plays 33-year-old single mom Emma Moriarty, who moves to a small desert ranch in Arizona. She and her 12-year-old son (played by Corey Haim) struggle to make a living and fit into a small rural community. And because just about every man (myself included) who meets Sally Fields falls in love with her, Emma finds herself being courted by two very different men. Brian Kerwin plays Emma's wild ex-husband, who shows up hoping to rekindle the romance with his ex. They have chemistry, but it's fair to say he's a bit of a good-looking jerk. And she also finds herself drawn to the much-older local pharmacist (played by James Garner). He's a soft-spoken widower who doesn't play games. He's not going to fight for Emma's affections with her ex-husband. But he's this steady rock of a man who would die for the ones he loves. That's a marked difference from Emma's ex, who seems unable to remember much about Emma once she leaves the room.

There's not much of a surprise in the outcome of the film, but this is one of those stories where the destination is less important than the trip along the way. Garner and Field have real chemistry and while there would be much self-righteous talk on social media about their difference in ages if the movie was made today, it's not a factor at all when you watch "Murphy's Romance." It's clear that while Emma doesn't see it initially, the two of them are each other's best possible fit. It's a movie that doesn't shy away from Garner's age, but doesn't apologize for it. He's older - for better and worse - and in a lot of ways it's one of the most honest and charming movies ever made about a senior in love with a younger woman. And given that Field has said in interviews that their final kiss in the movie was the best cinematic kiss of her career, the onscreen chemistry was real. Plus the role netted a Best Actor Oscar nomination for Garner, which gives you an idea of the level of acting to expect in this film. 

I love everything about "Murphy's Romance." It's sadly not seen all that often anymore, since I don't think it's every been available for streaming. But no matter your age, I guarantee you'll be smiling by the time the last shot of "Murphy's Romance" rolls across your television screen. 

"Murphy's Romance" airs on GetTV on Sunday, April 8 at 7:25 p.m. ET. And if you're a big fan of Sally Field, make sure to check out getTV late Sunday night, when the network airs nine episodes of her series "The Girl With Something Extra," beginning at Midnight.