I think some of our reviewers need to put in perspective the difference between cinema movies and telemovies (at least as telefilms were back before the current explosion of Netflix and other premium services. For a telefilm, this is a pretty decent effort.
In terms of the casting, I'd actually give the biggest pat on the back to Anna Chlumsky, who plays 2 characters here -- the daughter of Patricia Heaton's character, and the friend of Della Reese's character. She did a nice job.
I was interested in seeing this early role for Patricia Heaton, whom I only knew from "The Middle" and "Everybody Loves Raymond". Again, a nice job.
I thought Meredith Baxter's character underwent too much of a change through the teleplay, and had to deal with a flaw in the story line (being super concerned about her husband's legal predicaments to seeming to not be concerned at all).
Della Reese was quite good while her character was well, but I wasn't as convinced about her acting once the character got sick.
The story line -- possible. Tragic lives happen.
The teleplay is not going to bowl you over, but it's very watchable.
In terms of the casting, I'd actually give the biggest pat on the back to Anna Chlumsky, who plays 2 characters here -- the daughter of Patricia Heaton's character, and the friend of Della Reese's character. She did a nice job.
I was interested in seeing this early role for Patricia Heaton, whom I only knew from "The Middle" and "Everybody Loves Raymond". Again, a nice job.
I thought Meredith Baxter's character underwent too much of a change through the teleplay, and had to deal with a flaw in the story line (being super concerned about her husband's legal predicaments to seeming to not be concerned at all).
Della Reese was quite good while her character was well, but I wasn't as convinced about her acting once the character got sick.
The story line -- possible. Tragic lives happen.
The teleplay is not going to bowl you over, but it's very watchable.