MY MOTHER'S SECRET (TV movie 2012)
6 out of 10 stars Time to Read: 2:37 mins
BASIC PLOT:
Lauren Coulson (
Nicole de Boer) has just discovered she's having a baby with her husband Dennis (
Yannick Bisson). She can't wait to tell her mother, Amanda (
Deborah Grover), but her mother's reaction is less than overjoyed. Amanda's response comes from the weight of harboring a crushing secret. Lauren is not her biological child, she was adopted as a baby. Lauren could not be more shocked and devastated. Why would her mother keep this from her, and for so long?
Lauren is determined to uncover her biological parent's identities, before her baby arrives. Dennis knows a private investigator used through his legal work, and Lauren makes use of his talents right away. She learns the name of her birth mother, and where she still resides, but this information comes with a warning. He cautions her about contact with her biological family, and warns her, some truths come with consequences. But Lauren won't shy away, just because the truth might be painful. She's determined to find her parents, no matter the ramifications.
Her mother, Evelyn Wells (
Barbara Niven) first refuses to see her, but when she finally agrees to meet Lauren, she presents more questions than answers. Evelyn is a shell of a woman, who is completely dependent on her brother, Jonas Wells (
Rob Stewart), who's made it clear he wants the Coulsons to leave.
The secret they seem determined to keep from Lauren, is her father, Garrett Fowler (
Michael Riley), is in prison for killing her grandfather, (Evelyn and Jonas' father).
Lauren is shocked by the news, but remains resolute. She will continue seeking answers to her questions. No one will stop her from uncovering the truth. When she finally meets her father in prison, he swears he is innocent, and Lauren thinks she is being followed.
What are the secrets here, and can she reveal them in time to save herself, and her unborn child?
WHAT WORKS:
*ROB STEWART WORKS AS THE HARD ASS BROTHER
Rob Stewart is one of the most unappreciated, underused actors of his generation. He does an excellent job here as Jonas Wells,
*DEAN HOGOPIAN PLAYS DAN CONNOR, THE ALCOHOLIC MENTAL DEFECTIVE ATTORNEY, AND HE IS HILARIOUS When Lauren tells him ((
Dean Hagopian) he had a client that got convicted, and received life in prison, his response is, "If I only had a dollar for every time that's happened..." Classic!
WHAT DOESN'T WORK:
*Dennis Coulson (
Yannick Bisson) tells his wife, "We gotta go," then a few minutes later, he leaves without her, as if that was the plan all along. WTF? Are they supposed to go somewhere together, and she changed her mind? If that's the case, they should discuss it (honey I don't feel like going, or something like that), not just have him turn, & leave without her, after saying, "We gotta go."
*"GO TO YOUR BIG CASE" SPEECH FALLS FLAT The speech where Lauren (
Nicole de Boer) talks to her husband, Dennis (
Yannick Bisson) about going home, and taking the big fraud case he's always dreamt of, is weird and disjointed, also waaaaay to saccharine. It throws you out of the good melodramatic thriller, and reminds you that you're just watching a TV movie.
*POLICE REPORTS ARE PUBLIC RECORDS When Lauren goes to get a copy of the police report for fraud, filled against her grandfather by Bill (the owner of the B&B she staying in), they say "it's not allowed" for her to see it. That's BS, anyone can pay, and get a copy of the initial report (sometimes supplementals are confidential, but NOT the primary report).
*WHY WOULD LAUREN SUDDENLY BELIEVE THE SHERIFF? She's married to a lawyer, shouldn't she ask the question, why is the sheriff so involved in this case? Why does he want me out of town? Instead, she behaves like a lap dog, and obediently believes him. (Bad plot design by
John Serge).
TO RECOMMEND, OR NOT TO RECOMMEND, THAT IS THE QUESTION:
*I would recommend this to fans of made-for-tv thrillers and melodramas. It has a stellar cast, and their acting makes it a cut above the rest. Definitely recommend to
Rob Stewart fans.
CLOSING NOTES:
*This is a made-for-tv movie, please keep that in mind before you watch/rate it. TV movies have a much lower budget (this was made for only $650,000, much lower than most), and so your expectations should be adjusted.
*I have no connection to the film, or production in ANY way. This review was NOT written in full, or in part, by a bot. I am just an honest viewer, who wishes for more straight forward reviews (less trolls and fanboys), and better entertainment. Hope I helped you out.
