Daddy's Dyin'... Who's Got the Will?

This is one the funniest films I've ever seen. The characters are very believable. I just love the character Mama Wheelis. Beverly D' Angeleo is wonderful as Evelita. I think Patrika Darbo is very cute and funny in this movie. The whole movie is wonderful.

This is probably one of the most honest American culture movies ever written, directed and acted. Anyone who has siblings and grew up with typical sibling rivalries can relate to the both the humor and the heartbreak. The plot provides a nostalgic glimpse into growing up in small town America, and how our placement in the family unit plays a crucial role in how each one of us enters society as adults. For example, I connected with Evalita because I am the youngest girl in a family of four. It is I, whom Daddy spoiled and I am the the only child who left the nest to "suck the marrow" from life... the entertainer. Like myself, Evalita chose the "road less traveled and that made all the difference." She lived, which is why she sings "Find Your Way", a song about the suffering we endure and the joy we feel as we journey through life. I think "Daddy," too, truly lived his life, which is why Evalita is his favorite. Evalita's role in the story is symbolic of the choices we all have, and how our decisions affect who we are. She is a mirror for the other characters, showing not only her family members, but all of us, a part of ourselves. And, last but not least, Beverly D'Angelo plays the Evalita, as she does all her roles, with immaculate finesse. A definite must see for those who have yet to understand the importance of family.

This movie was fun. There was not a boring moment. The characters and the dialog were credible. It kept my interest the whole time. Before I watched it, I looked it up on this site, but it didn't come up. Later I realized that you can't enter an apostrophe when entering the title. I was able to bring it up when I input it without the apostrophe. I thought the title of this movie was quite appropriate, couldn't have been any better. The acting did not suffer from the flaw of many movies of this type, which is the flaw of overacting. Instead, it was well acted. The characters were interesting. I really think the rating it has so far on this site is way too low.

I may be exaggerating about how bad the movie is. Sometimes I got the impression the performances were good, and occasionally this was funny. But it wasn't what I was hoping for, based on the title.

Yes, the four adult children of Buford Turnover have arrived at his Texas ranch to visit their father one last time. Sara Lee has to clean up her house so the very conservative and holier-than-thou Lurlene won't see anything inappropriate. Evalita, an aspiring country singer, arrives engaged to Harmony, a long-haired vegetarian hippie. And Orville brings his wife Marlene, who is trying to lose weight but can't seem to please her husband no matter what she does. Sara Lee claims to be marrying Clarence, but that's just a cover story so her family won't think she's ... can I use that word? I'd better not. Mama Wheelis (who doesn't look that much older than Buford) is even more Christian (mostly meaning judgmental) than Lurlene. It is her son who is dying, and he lost his wife Linnie Sue years ago.

All anyone seems to care about is what they're getting when Buford dies. And no one seems to know where the will is. Orville is the greediest and least caring of the whole group.

These people tried hard to make me laugh, and I suppose there's nothing wrong with a movie like this being partly a drama, but it just wasn't enough for me.

If any performances can be said to stand out, I would say Patrika Darbo as the frustrated Marlene, and Judge Reinhold as the sensitive and caring Harmony. Despite his rugged appearance, Harmony was a really nice person. This is partly good writing, of course.

The most touching moments, for me, were Buford's delusions as he watched his family singing around the piano. He thought he was seeing his wife and his young children.

There was lots of good music. I especially enjoyed the country band which Evalita sang with (until Harmony decided to join in; if I wanted to listen to Montgomery Gentry, I would).

It depends on the individual, I suppose. Southerners may enjoy this more than those from other parts of the country.

A great film, soild relateable flawed characters, that in the end of all the meanness, pettyness, they are still family.