The Secret Life of Zoey (2002) (TV)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Robert Mandel

Writer (WGA):

Betty Goldberg (written by)

Release Date:

19 August 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

She thought she knew everything about her daughter.

Plot:

The Secret Life of Zoey depicts the events that took place in Zoey Carter's life...

Plot Keywords:

Rehab | Drug Addict | Drug Addiction | Drug Abuse | Prescription Drug Abuse

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Mia Farrow	...	Marcia Carter
Julia Whelan	...	Zoey Carter
Cliff De Young	...	Larry Carter
Andrew McCarthy	...	Mike Harper
Caroline Aaron	...	Mimi
Katharine Isabelle	...	Kayla
Michael Coristine	...	Ron
Julie Patzwald	...	Julia
Stephen E. Miller	...	Ian (as Stephen Miller)
Walter Marsh	...	Smokey
Patricia Idlette	...	Cora
Betty Linde	...	Mrs. Cardona
Paige Christina	...	Jan (as Paige Heuser)
David Kopp	...	Marty
Emily Holmes	...	Joan

Also Known As:

On the Edge (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for drug use and related issues.

Runtime:

Argentina:92 min | USA:120 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:12 | Australia:M | Finland:K-11 | Argentina:13 | USA:PG-13 (video rating) | USA:TV-14 (original tv rating)

Company:

Once and Future Films

Worth watching...

Julia Whalen as Zooey, a young girl who gets caught up in drugs. ..."everyone has them, Mom"..., she tells her mother (Mia Farrow) they help me study, then when I need to crash, after taking an exam.

What is good about this film is it does not sugar-coat or deny the reality. Zooey ends up in the ER; her mother finally realizes the extent of her daughter's problem.

Cliff DeYoung, a familiar face as the father, who is ineffectual. His daughter stays over one night, when he has some anonymous girlfriend over. He and Farrow are divorced; he tries to placate his daughter. After being grounded without driving or cell phone privileges, her father buys her a new cell phone she can use it in her car.

This film adequately shows the predicament parents have today; while not wanting to be the "bad guy" some parents may overcompensate and give the kid whatever he or she wants; this is no solution either.

Julia Whelan is very good as Zooey, not overplayed; just another kid wanting to fit in with friends, at first. This film shows that this is a very serious problem, with no easy solutions. 8/10.