Ben looks upon Joe as a surrogate son and
encourages him to join in his business as a real estate developer. Jojo
hides her grief behind her intelligence and wit and avoids all the attention
paid to the bereaved family from outside. While living with them Joe meets
Bertie a prospective beau (Eleen Pompeo) who works in the post office
as well as a local bar. Joe is torn between his sense of loyalty to the
two people who would have been his in-laws and his desire to move on with
his life. Eventually, he has a relationship and romance with Bertie, but
their mutual attraction was happening too soon for Joe as well as for
Bertie, who still hasn't given up on her boyfriend who has been missing
in action in Vietnam for the past three years.
Mony Camp (Holly Hunter) plays the tough
attorney who offers practical legal advise to the Floss family regarding
the case against their daughters killer and Mike Mulcahey (Dabney Coleman)
plays the big time real estate developer a rival to Ben Floss's dreams
of making it big.
The film's real intent is to sooth rather
than pierce, to make the sadness look cozy. Silberling does a decent job
in conveying it. The film has all the ingredients to make it a success.
The movie is definitely too long but there are enough nice moments to
keep the viewers happy. Certainly the casting couldn't be better. But
one gets a feeling that the talents of three Oscar winners especially
that of Holly Hunter is wasted. Ellen Pompeo as the sweet, vulnerable
Bertie shows promise as a newcomer.
We rate this movie fair. It is worth seeing.
