“The Secret: Dare to Dream” is all about the power of positive thinking. Although it started production in 2018 and is being released now during the pandemic, it’s a fitting film for this time frame. Like in the film, where a hurricane causes damage, we’re all facing a crisis too these days.

In the movie, which is based on the best-selling book, “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne, Katie Holmes plays Miranda Wells, a widowed mom of three kids. The family is down on their luck both financially and emotionally. Miranda is dating her boss, Tucker played by Jerry O’Connell. There’s respect there and love, but is it romantic love?

Miranda gets into a fender bender and bumps into the truck of Bray Johnson, a college professor from Nashville, played by Josh Lucas. Viewers know that Bray had stopped at Miranda’s house earlier to drop off some paperwork but she wasn’t home. While there, he briefly interacted with her son. Bray offers to fix Miranda’s bumper and soon sits down with the whole family.

But a storm is brewing in Louisiana, where the family lives. Miranda’s house is a mess after storm damage and Bray seems there to pick up the pieces.

Why is he so helpful? And what was in that envelope that he needed to give her at the beginning of the movie? Most of the movie goes by, before we are find out what’s in that envelope – what’s the secret?

Along the way, there are relationship twists and turns for the whole family including Miranda, her boyfriend and her kids. There’s also a growing connection between Miranda and Bray.

“The Secret” has charming moments but at times the dialogue is like a Ted Talk of positive phrases:

• “Anything is possible if you really want it.”
• “We get what we expect.”
• “The more you think about something, the more you draw it to you.”

Bray’s belief is that whatever happens – even the bad stuff – can lead to better things. He tells Miranda, “Think of what you want, not what you don’t want.”

For Miranda, the problem is she’s too stressed to think about what she wants. It’s not until a stranger walks into her life that she starts to realize she has the power to dream and think about what she really wants.

This movie is a respite from some of the real life drama we’re all facing and the message is uplifting. It’s entertaining and made me smile; a reminder that we all need focus on the good things in life, including figuring out what we want and going for it.

The Lionsgate film is available on demand. Watch the trailer here.