Parker’s Anchor is a family affair that brings its very best to the table. Husband and wife team Jennica and Ryan Schwartzman, along with Jennica’s brother Marc Hampson, made a collaborative effort that delivers a diamond in the rough.
Parker’s Anchor provides plenty of romance and comedy, while tackling the heart-wrenching topic of infertility. It does an incredible job capturing the raw emotion and rough seas that infertility often brings.
Parker’s Anchor opens with main character, Krystal Parker, and her husband embarking on a journey to get pregnant, only to find out that Krystal is unable to bear children. This leads to the end of their marriage and the beginning of Krystal’s battle to move forward with little hope that she will ever see motherhood or find love again.
Krystal moves in with her best friend, Corinne, who in trying to be helpful, offers the advice that most struggling with infertility are sick of hearing: “The best way to get pregnant is to stop trying.” Krystal finds the strength to move forward, trying to see what the future holds as a single, childless young woman. Little does she know the surprises that await and the turns life will take as she learns to let go of the past and the control to which she so desperately clings.
I cannot say enough about how beautifully shot this movie is and was impressed throughout with the talent of the cast a whole. There were a few big-name players in this production such as Michael Beach, Penny Johnson Harold, and Christopher Marquette, though the entire cast was excellent and the chemistry apparent throughout. The dialogue was seamless and felt impressively unscripted and raw. Parker’s Anchor tackled the emotional roller-coaster that is infertility and hit the nail on the head. The character of Krystal experienced such loss and portrayed the raw emotion and honesty that thousands of women experience every year.
While Parker’s Anchor was a bright light aesthetically and talent-driven, it did miss the mark on a general plot climax. The movie was thoroughly enjoyable to watch kept my attention throughout. While it did close up the loose ends, it seemed to do so too soon. It wasn’t necessarily that the movie needed to be longer, but it seemed that the beginning of the story was appropriate, the middle incredibly lengthy, and the end done a disservice. The audience is left wanting a little bit more explanation and journey to come to the movie’s conclusion.
Parker’s Anchor also, unfortunately, missed the mark completely on the adoption process. It is tied up neatly and portrayed as an incredibly short and easy process. An adoption like the one portrayed in the movie would never occur so seamlessly and quickly. While this was a bit off-putting to myself as an adoptive parent and adoption advocate, I don’t discount the movie because of this error. This was not meant to be an “adoption” movie, but rather the adoption story more of a means an end. Infertility was the overarching theme and Parker’s Anchor told that story well.
Parker’s Anchor is a feel-good movie and relatable to anyone who has experienced loss, especially those who have gone through the struggles of infertility. It was well-written, beautifully filmed, professionally directed, and overflowing with talent. A romantic dramedy perfect for both teenage and adult audiences that will spur conversation but also leave its audience with a smile. While I was left wanting a bit more in the end, I would definitely recommend Parker’s Anchor for your next movie night.
