Sissy Spacek (Mama) is, in real life, the mother of co-star/fellow actress Schuyler Fisk (Suzy).
Aaron Michael Metchik and Asher Metchik who played brothers Harry and Jeremy are also brothers in real life.
As noted in the Siskel and Ebert (1986) episode the film was shot in Virginia as Sissy Spacek had moved there around the time of filming to get away from Hollywood and raise her children. She chose this as a film for her kids to see that she starred in.
Anna Chlumsky originally auditioned to be in Beethoven (1992) after the success of My Girl (1991) but she was passed over for another actress. Afterwards she was offered to audition for this movie and was personally selected by co-star Sissy Spacek due to the success of My Girl. Filming began in May 1992 only a few months after the aforementioned's release but it wasn't released until 1994 as test screenings were poor. It almost went straight to video but was ultimately released theatrically due to Spacek's star power and Chlumsky's rise to fame with the aforementioned and it's sequel which also was released in 1994 three months before this film.