Discovering What Family Really Means at Heart of ‘Rose’

You can count on any “Hallmark Hall of Fame” production to look good, but looking good isn’t enough, as the earnest but painfully cliched presentation “Rose Hill” proves.

The importance of family is the message in this late 19th century saga about four unrelated orphan boys--one black and three white--who call themselves brothers and “adopt” a sister, an abandoned baby, who instantly becomes the center of their universe.

Directed by Christopher Cain, the tale jumps from the boys’ flight west from New York’s mean streets to 4-year-old Mary Rose’s recruitment of an unhappy widow as their motherly cook, and to her brothers’ establishment as respected cattle ranchers.

It hops to 18-year-old Mary Rose’s resentment of her brothers’ over-protectiveness, oldest brother Adam (the notable actor Jeffrey D. Sams) taking a Shoshone bride, cattle-rustling and Mary Rose’s family-damaging choice of Mr. Wrong as her first love.

In short order, Adam develops a significant cough--think “Carmen”--the ranch’s fortunes turn sour and Mary Rose’s anger drives her to find (effortlessly) her wealthy New York birth family.

This all leads, of course, to Mary Rose (played by Jennifer Garner with many fetching close-ups) discovering what family really means and whom her Mr. Right should be.

The cast does its best; Sams is the standout until he’s sidelined as a tragic plot device. But events are so telescopic and occur with such by-the-numbers convenience that little rings true in Earl Wallace’s teleplay (based on Julie Garwood’s novel “For the Roses”).

* “Rose Hill” airs 9-11 p.m. Sunday on CBS (Channel 2). The network has given the film a rating of TV-G (suitable for all ages).