The target audience for this film is women, and any woman who has ever had a child, wanted a child, or lost a child will cry over it. But men should also give it a chance, not just for the family themes that men in general ought to give more attention to or the aesthetic pleasure of looking at Cheryl Ladd (who is perhaps too beautiful for her part; her friend Ella, played by Polly Draper, is better cast--attractive but not exotically beautiful, and genuinely likeable in her small part). But men and women alike will appreciate the versatile Ted Levine as Gary Ward, Emily's father, who loves his wife and daughter but has just never figured out how to be a productive member of society. Though he has trouble controlling his temper, Gary is not really dangerous, and his vulnerability makes him a sympathetic character. The scene where he coaxes his wife (as undereducated and inept as he is) to come downstairs into his arms has an odd charm combined with pathos. The viewer feels that they belong together and need each other and that Pam (Cheryl Ladd) is wrong to try to keep them apart.
If you care about children and families, watch "Broken Promises" for the bittersweet story. If you don't care about those elements, watch it for Ted Levine's performance. Either way, it's worth your time.
