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This was far better than I expected for a movie of its type. It's not a laugh-out-loud sort of film, but one that pretty much stays entertaining from start to finish. You wonder throughout the film, too, how in the world is Mrs. Campbell going to get out of the mess she is in?

Three men who were soldiers during WWII think they are the father of her daughter who was born when she was a teenager. They have all three sent monthly support checks for 20 years. Now they are all returning to Italy for a WWII reunion in the town where Mrs. Campbell lives, expecting to meet their daughter.

The only thing today's viewers may find objectionable is that Mrs. Campbell was only a 16-year-old orphan when she had affairs with the soldiers. That will be hard for some to see as funny, regardless of Mrs. C. obviously seeing nothing wrong with the "comfort" she gave and received at the time.

Of all the men, I thought Philippe Leroy, her current love, was the nicest one; Telly Savalas seemed more paternal than the other two soldiers; Janet Margolin was the perfect daughter; and Naomi Stevens a most amusing housekeeper. Well worth the watching time, as long as you want to be entertained, not desire to have something to think about when the film is over.

Back in the late '60s, when I started reading teen magazines, there were articles on the Cowsills. At the time, the group consisted of Bob, Barry, John, Paul, Suzie and Barbara. It was mentioned that it was sad brother Bill was no longer in the group. Since I thought Bob had always been the lead singer, I thought who needed Bill? Only decades later when watching old videos of the group performing, did I realize Bill was the great lead singer on the Cowsill hits. Obviously, they needed Bill, because it all went downhill after his father kicked him out of the group. At the time, it was also reported that the Cowsills turned down doing the TV series that would become the "Partridge Family" because they had too many other work obligations.

This film explores how the singing family went from being a highly successful '60s group, to no longer having any songs that would hit the top of the charts, much less a TV series. It focuses mostly on the sons and the father. The father Bud was an abusive alcoholic who hit and belittled his kids, as well as sexually abused his only daughter. Little attention in the film is given to that sexual abuse, as well as little attention to their mother Barbara's role in all the family dysfunction. Plus, much of the film ends up being family members talking on and on about their lives in a way that may very well bore many viewers. In other words, it's not the most professionally produced documentary. It also creates a lot more questions than it provides answers.

This film has good intentions, but when all is said and done, it is little more than a sentimental tear-jerker. Heidi lives in an apartment with her mentally disabled mother and her next-door neighbor Bernadette. The apartment is actually Bernadette's, with her mother's apartment easily accessed through a removed closet panel.

Odd? Quite. Especially since Bernadette has no idea who pays for Heidi's mother's apartment. She met her right after she gave birth to Heidi, and no one ever came over to ask if she had seen Heidi's mother. Still with me here? Yes, Bernadette just decides to care for Heidi and her mother, instead of calling in social services or anyone else.

Apparently, she pays for all their food and clothes and other stuff, but sends 12-year-old Heidi, dressed to look like an adult, off to a slot machine place where she always wins lots of quarters. No joke. Bernadette also homeschools Heidi, so there was never a need for a birth certificate or any other form of identification. She obviously doesn't want Heidi to be taken away from her by anyone.

Bernadette has agoraphobia, you see, and really emotionally needs Heidi and her mother. Problem is Heidi is at an age where she wants to know who her father is, why her mother has no relatives, and doesn't even have a real name. (Bernadette calls her "Precious".) So, after looking at photos in her mother's apartment for the very first time in 12 years, off Heidi runs away to the east coast to find answers.

It's a long bus trip from Reno, Nevada, but Heidi gets to where she is going, and soon finds answers to all her questions. It's really not much of a story and not particularly believable, both Heidi's family story and the movie's story. Yet, from reading reviews, it appears to be a story some viewers found very touching. If you are the type of viewer who has a box of tissues nearby, do give the film a try.