Product Details

• Actors: Joan Plowright, Mischa Barton, Ingrid Uribe, Richard Yniguez, Anthony Marquez
• Directors: JoBeth Williams
• Writers: Elisa Guest, Jenny Bogart, Mia Certic
• Producers: Barbra Streisand, Cis Corman, Mary Guilfoyle, Sheila Hockin
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: G (General Audience)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Showtime Ent.
• VHS Release Date: April 9, 2002
• Run Time: 92 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005V9KH
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #570,517 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Actress JoBeth Williams directed this Showtime family feature starring The Sixth Sense's Mischa Barton for Barbra Streisand's Barwood Films. Barton is Frankie and Ingrid Uribe is Hazel, Frankie's neighbor and best friend. Frankie is an orphan who lives with her imperious grandmother, Phoebe (Joan Plowright), while Hazel lives with her father and older brother. Frankie's mother was a prima ballerina--killed in a car crash along with her father--and Frankie's been following in her toe shoes ever since. Although she's the best dancer in her class, she'd rather play baseball, whereas Hazel's a local activist who'd rather be mayor. The story strains credibility when 13-year-old Hazel runs for office against the middle-aged incumbent, but Frankie's goal is more understandable, and both actresses make their characters sympathetic and believable. It's as hard not to like them as it is not to root for them to succeed. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW wish there was a 6 star award. This would get it !! January 27, 2004

By Bob Mckelvy

Format:DVD

I review a lot of movies. Most of them tend to be humdrum. Every once in a rare while you find one with a simple plot, predictable happy ending that makes you feel good inside. Even though you have a pretty good idea of how it will end, we never cease to be amazed by the impact that some movies may have on us. This one presents a strong, loving human side of our nature that rarely surfaces. Kids come pretty close to presenting this higher side of ourselves. Even though this movie is simple. It is one of those movies that that will always make you "feel good" inside, and enjoy watching many times over with family and friends. This one is being added to my permanent collection !! Bob :-)

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Family Film. Disney missed this? January 30, 2004

By "hawkjet"

Format:VHS Tape

This is a wonderful movie! No cussing, no nudity, no car chases, no explosions, not even a loud argument. Appropiate for anyone over 6 years old. Mischa Barton plays Frankie (Francheska), a 12 year old prima ballerina. Frankie has done ballet all her life, but walking through the park she sees a sign announcing baseball tryouts. Encouraged by her activist best friend and neighbor, Hazel, Frankie decides to go out for the team. She has to do this on the sly because her grandmother, whose thinking is in the victorian era, feels Frankie should live, breathe, and eat ballet. Frankie lives with her grandmother because she lost her parents when she was two. Frankie's grandmother hasn't finished grieving for her daughter, who also was a ballerina, and demands ballet from frankie because it's a way of closure for the severe emotional loss. The amusing subplot in this movie is the activist exploits of Hazel. Bothered by a library rarely open, filthy parks, and ignored by the town's mayor, Hazel does her homework and discovers that there's no age set to run for mayor. Hazel announces her run, and quickly draws a following. The scene not to be missed is the mayoral debate where she hands the middle aged mayor his hat, metaphorically speaking. Any mother can put this vid on and know that their children will be inspired by Frankie and Hazel.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars mischa barton shines August 6, 2002

By "jfb196736"

Format:DVD

mischa barton is truely the star of this touching storey about two 12 year old girls who are neighbors and best friends. the movie centers on frankie(barton) whose mother a ballerina was killed in a car crash along with frankie's father, when she was to young to rember either of them. frankie's grandmother(joan plowright) wants frankie to follow in her mother's footsteps, frankie isn't sure she wants to, but she does want to play baseball and joins a fall team without her grand mother knowing. meanwhile frankie's best friend hazel is running for mayor, being dissatisfied with the mayor job. the two young leads, especially barton, keep this movie from being a hooky afterschool special, and make the movie just special