The film has this atmospheric, nostalgic 90s, suburban, Saturday afternoon-flick style to it. The score by Elmer Bernstein is beautiful and gorgeously quaint. Michelle Pfeiffer's acting is sublime.
The first act, or the beginning rather, is very riveting. Beth and her two sons go to a hotel, and moments later the young one goes missing. These are all powerful, engaging moments. Pfeiffer's acting here is very naturalistic and emotions sympathetic to the audience. Whoopi Goldberg makes a great, relatable detective with her little wits and light humor.
9 years later, Beth believes she's found her son (who will be around 12 and is named Sam). The part where she gazes at him and then goes to take snapshots of him is really adorable. But afterwards, everything happens rapidly - She informs the cops that she's found him and voila, they're arresting Ben's stepfather for "kidnapping" (although he had no part of it) and Ben/Sam is now back living with the Cappadora family. Um, okay.
So all this film was set up for how Ben (who is now Sam) would cope living with his biological parents. That is not how I wanted the movie to be, honestly. I wanted more scenes with Beth trying to figure out if this Sam was her son. More mystery and drama regarding that. Cops not believing her. And only at the end, it is revealed that he really is her son. I expected the film to flow that way.
Instead, by the 3rd act, Vincent (Ben's older brother) becomes a bit rebellious and would resent Ben. Then, ultimately, he becomes arrested out of nowhere. The plot really became unhinged and incohesive. Why would the audience care about Vincent being arrested? The ending was anticlimactic as it practically concluded in the front yard with the two brothers (Ben and Vincent) becoming closer and affectionate, as the parents watch in glee. There was no powerful moment. Looks like all these touching, somber moments where in the first act.
I still give it a 6 for the great acting and the intriguing first act. Also, for the outstanding score.
The first act, or the beginning rather, is very riveting. Beth and her two sons go to a hotel, and moments later the young one goes missing. These are all powerful, engaging moments. Pfeiffer's acting here is very naturalistic and emotions sympathetic to the audience. Whoopi Goldberg makes a great, relatable detective with her little wits and light humor.
9 years later, Beth believes she's found her son (who will be around 12 and is named Sam). The part where she gazes at him and then goes to take snapshots of him is really adorable. But afterwards, everything happens rapidly - She informs the cops that she's found him and voila, they're arresting Ben's stepfather for "kidnapping" (although he had no part of it) and Ben/Sam is now back living with the Cappadora family. Um, okay.
So all this film was set up for how Ben (who is now Sam) would cope living with his biological parents. That is not how I wanted the movie to be, honestly. I wanted more scenes with Beth trying to figure out if this Sam was her son. More mystery and drama regarding that. Cops not believing her. And only at the end, it is revealed that he really is her son. I expected the film to flow that way.
Instead, by the 3rd act, Vincent (Ben's older brother) becomes a bit rebellious and would resent Ben. Then, ultimately, he becomes arrested out of nowhere. The plot really became unhinged and incohesive. Why would the audience care about Vincent being arrested? The ending was anticlimactic as it practically concluded in the front yard with the two brothers (Ben and Vincent) becoming closer and affectionate, as the parents watch in glee. There was no powerful moment. Looks like all these touching, somber moments where in the first act.
I still give it a 6 for the great acting and the intriguing first act. Also, for the outstanding score.