Katherine Heigl returns to big screen in "Jackie & Ryan"

NEW YORK (WABC) -- She was the TV star whose red-hot career made her a big screen headliner. But Katherine Heigl has been out of the movie scene for awhile.

Now she's back, in an unexpected way.

On the wild web, there's been plenty of chatter about Katherine Heigl. I don't quite know how she became the actress folks like to dislike, but let's just say there's not a lot of love for her on the Internet.

Now she's made a move to change the conversation, but first a bit of background.

Hard to believe, but Katherine Heigl first made her mark almost 30 years ago in a movie called "My Father The Hero".

In the decades since then, Heigl was America's sweetheart on TV, in ABC's "Grey's Anatomy", and on the big screen.

The film "Knocked Up" led to a string of hits that ended a few years back amid reports Hollywood was just fed up with her and tired with the endless demands from her mother, who is also her manager.

All of which makes her new role that much more surprising and welcome.

"Jackie & Ryan" tells the story of a street musician and a mother trying to raise her daughter in the midst of a bitter divorce from a rich guy. It's a tale about how simple values are most important.

For me, this low budget effort was the perfect vehicle for Heigl at this point in her career: a return to basics and a reminder to all who dismissed her.

She is more down to earth than diva here, and without much makeup, her talent can shine through.

De-glammed and good again, "Jackie & Ryan" is the perfect way to reboot her film career, and beyond enjoying this movie, which I did, it always gives me satisfaction to report that someone who has 'gone Hollywood' has decided to get real again.

Katherine Heigl's movie "Jackie & Ryan" is in just a few theaters, but it's well worth making the effort to go and see.