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5 star:		(34)
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Based on the novel by Luanne Rice, this positive family film deals with some hard issues: abortion, childhood disability, single parenting, grieving the death of a spouse and father, domestic violence, and substance abuse. That doesn't sound like a great mix for family entertainment, but although realistic, it is tastefully done. It is also is completely clean without swearing and doesn't dwell on the unhappy scenes. It has some good messages with a happy ending, and all the loose ends are nicely resolved. Probably the main theme of the story is the value of human life, but also that when you truly love someone you are willing to give of yourself.

Dianne Parker (Kimberly Williams) and Mark McCune (Eric Close) marry and are expecting their first child. When they find out that their unborn child will be severely disabled, Mark urges Dianne to have an abortion. She refuses and Mark abandons the family leaving her to be a single parent. Mark's brother, David (Campbell Scott), is a friend of Dianne's who has been secretly in love with her since before she was married to his brother. He is conveniently a pediatrician and is a great help to Dianne. Worried for Dianne's heath because she is overworking herself, he arranges for Amy (Alexa Vega) to work as a mother's helper over the summer. Amy has a very bad home situation and her mother is an alcoholic. Amy develops a strong friendship with Julia, Dianne's daughter, to the point where they can almost read each other's minds.

This movie has superb acting by all the cast, especially young Alexa Vega and Kimberly Williams. Alexa really steals the show! I also noticed that twin girls (Amanda & Caitlin Fein) play the part of Julia. If they are not disabled (and even if they are) they did some pretty good acting. The most disturbing scenes are those that involve Amy's mother's abusive boyfriend, especially the one in which he tries to kill Amy's puppy. It all turns out okay, but parents should be warned that it is pretty frightening. It is also disturbing when Julia has seizures and children may need some explanation before viewing the film. Amy's mother gets help and we realize by the end that Amy and her mother will have a good future together.

A strong message in the film is the fact that although Julia's life will be cut short because of her serious medical condition, the 6 years that she has lived are not wasted, that both she and her mother have been changed as the result of her life.

I would strongly recommend this movie, but better get out the Kleenexes before the climax! Oh, and the ending is just so cute.

This is a wonderful movie. It is full of the message of unconditional love. The love that is shown to the medically fragile girl in this picture is fun to watch because it is so sincere and pure. The movie gives one a feeling that no matter how bad it gets in one's life, there is always hope to see the situation in a better more positive light. This is a story about love, life and relationships. For once, a movie that doesn't have to have guns and violence to make an impact. I admire Hallmark for that.

This was a great family movie. As the father of a severely autistic child, I appreciate the kindness toward a special child shown in this film, a kindness that should be emulated across the globe.

Campbell Scott puts in a great acting performance in this one!

Jeffrey McAndrew
author of "Our Brown-Eyed Boy"

Based on the novel by Luanne Rice, this positive family film deals with some hard issues: abortion, childhood disability, single parenting, grieving the death of a spouse and father, domestic violence, and substance abuse. That doesn't sound like a great mix for family entertainment, but although realistic, it is tastefully done. It is also is completely clean without swearing and doesn't dwell on the unhappy scenes. It has some good messages with a happy ending, and all the loose ends are nicely resolved. Probably the main theme of the story is the value of human life, but also that when you truly love someone you are willing to give of yourself.

Dianne Parker (Kimberly Williams) and Mark McCune (Eric Close) marry and are expecting their first child. When they find out that their unborn child will be severely disabled, Mark urges Dianne to have an abortion. She refuses and Mark abandons the family leaving her to be a single parent. Mark's brother, David (Campbell Scott), is a friend of Dianne's who has been secretly in love with her since before she was married to his brother. He is conveniently a pediatrician and is a great help to Dianne. Worried for Dianne's heath because she is overworking herself, he arranges for Amy (Alexa Vega) to work as a mother's helper over the summer. Amy has a very bad home situation and her mother is an alcoholic. Amy develops a strong friendship with Julia, Dianne's daughter, to the point where they can almost read each other's minds.

This movie has superb acting by all the cast, especially young Alexa Vega and Kimberly Williams. Alexa really steals the show! I also noticed that twin girls (Amanda & Caitlin Fein) play the part of Julia. If they are not disabled (and even if they are) they did some pretty good acting. The most disturbing scenes are those that involve Amy's mother's abusive boyfriend, especially the one in which he tries to kill Amy's puppy. It all turns out okay, but parents should be warned that it is pretty frightening. It is also disturbing when Julia has seizures and children may need some explanation before viewing the film. Amy's mother gets help and we realize by the end that Amy and her mother will have a good future together.

I would strongly recommend this movie, but better get out the Kleenexes before the climax! Oh, and the ending is just so cute.

Additional note: The DVD is pretty basic and does not have much in the way of additional features.

This movie spoke to me in so many ways. It really showed how we can take something that the world looks down on such as a disability and use it for good. I'm not saying having a disability is a positive thing: I have a disability and I know how difficult it can be to live with everyday. But I also know from exoerience how it can be used to show people differences in people can really used to educate and bring people together.

The child with the severe disabilities, Julia, had a loving mother, grandmother and uncle (unfortunately, her father wanted to split because he thought her life was a waste, which is very sad for him because that would mean that he would really miss out on lot of love and happiness). She had this loving family but needed a friend who was also a child. Amy, on the other hand, needed a surrogate family because she wasn't being properly cared for at home and was being emotionally neglected there. When Amy and Julia came together, they gave each other something special and precious that each of them needed. For Julia, it was friendship. For Amy, it was a second family that she could trust to give her the love and attention that she was being deprived of at home.

This all happened because David, knowing Amy was looking for a summer job, asked her if she ever thought about being a mother's helper, wanting Amy to help Julia's mother Diane with the care that Julia needed. All of these people came together as a family because of Julia: she brought them together. Amd I was so touched by that.

The whole cast is wonderful too. I highly recommend this movie to anyone. I also highly recommend it to anyone who struggles with being discouraged by a disability or feels uncomfortable around people with disabilities. I also think that maybe it could be shown in schools to children who are at the age in which they can understnad what goes on in it (there is a couple of aggressive scenes in it and a couple scenes with violence in them. The issues of alcoholism and domestic abuse are also seen in this movie so I recommend that younger children not see it but maybe middle school or high school kids. Just an opinion.

Anyway, like I said, I think ANYONE can gain something valuable after watching this movie.

-Annie K.

I saw this movie on the Hallmark Channel. I saw Kimberly Williams on the commercials and I like her as an actress so I decided to watch it. This movie is a really touching story about a young mother, Dianne (Kimberly Williams) trying to raise her daughter, Julia, who was born with neurological and spinal damage. Her husband, Mark did not want a physically challenged daughter so he left Dianne to raise Julia alone. Dianne's brother-in-law David introduces her to a 12-year-old girl named Amy (Alexa Vega) who becomes Dianne's mother's helper. Amy has a special connection with Julia and understands her in ways even Dianne can't.
All in all, it's a great movie to watch. If you have kids, it's great to watch with them. This movie can help kids accept people for who they are and learn that everyone is special. The great thing is that there is no swearing, so it's ok for young kids to watch.(If you have young children be advised that there is a brief domestic situation-although it is only heard, not seen.) This is a wonderful movie and is one of my top 15 favorites.

I first saw this movie when it came on T.V. I work with children and adults whom have special needs and to me this movie was so enlighting. It made me realize that a moment should never go unwasted because you don't know what tomorrow will bring. Kimberly Williams and Campbell Scott were both spectacular. It is a movie of truth, hope, dispair, and so much love.

I've seen this movie several times. It was at the most recent viewing that several thoughts came to mind. I worked in a major medical center for several years and on occassion my clinic would see children who were severely disabled. I would think what kind of life were the kids and their parents having - spending many days in the hospital. I still don't know if I have an answer but the film has me thinking about it again. I can empathize with the husband not being able to deal with the catastrophy (from his viewpoint) of a disabled child. My ex-wife was diagnosed with a possible cancer (ultimately found to be not a cancer). When she was describing how she was feeling (very very scared) I didn't know what to say so ultimately just sat there like a dope and looked at her. Not my best performance as a husband. This movie brought that scene in my own life back very vividely. Watching the mom's helper after she had been injured in a car accident apologizing for not being able to take care of Julia and Julia's mom and her alcoholic mother brought back other memories of my alcoholic father and how at the age of 12 I was trying to figure out ways to make him not drink. I never did come up with a solution but seeing the torment in the child (who was apparently younger than me) brought the moments of over 40 years ago back to me. So for me, this movie was thought provoking on many issues about my own life. I'm not sure that this is a movie for everyone. Some have said it has a good ending. I'm not sure. There is a pending death and you won't if Amy's mom says sober. There are uncertainties in this movie just like in real life. But at the conclusion you are at least hopeful that things will work out ok for everyone. Ultimately this was a hard movie for me to watch but at the same time it was beneficial. The acting was exceptional and the feelings and emotions they all conveyed were easy to understand and feel. I recommend this movie highly but I'm not sure it is a movie that kids will easily understand. Parents should stand by for lots of questions which have very hard answers.

This movie is so incrediably touching. Its also very realistic to peoples everyday lives. It givs a great sense of hope that no matter what the situation is, everything will work out. Campbell Scott ad Kimberly Williams were phenominal together. This movie is filled with so much love that I think we sometimes take for granted in everday lives.

Worthwhile movie that you'll watch more than once. Upped it to my favorite movie section.

I bought this tape mainly because I am a fan of Eric Close. I was slightly disappointed at first as Eric Close is not the lead actor in this movie. He also plays a selfish and unsupportive husband of Dianne Parker-McCune (Actress - Kimberly Williams). However, don't let this put you off. The story is so touching and real. I was moved to tears after watching the entire show.

Kimberly Williams is so beautiful and she portrays a mother who will give up anything for her handicapped child (Caitlin Fein). Her husband, Eric Close, was unhappy with the idea of having a handicapped child in the family. He then abandoned Kimberly and went on a sailing trip. Kimberly was left all alone to take care of her child. Despite all hardships, Kimberly managed to keep her family together. David McCune (Actor Campbell Scott) is Kimberly's brother-in-law. He is a doctor and he has always liked Kimberly. The friendship between Kimberly and Campbell grew stronger and their love blossomed.

This is a wonderful story about love and sacrifice. If you're an Eric Close fan, you should purchase this video. Eric Close looks hotter than ever. If you're not a fan of any actor or actress, you should also watch this movie. It made me realize that life is full of little surprises. Hold on to hope and it will lead to your desired happiness!!!