Comfort and Joy

Jane (Nancy McKeon) has it all or so she thinks. She is a high-powered executive who drives a jag, has an equally well-connected boyfriend, and a wardrobe to die for. Her best friend is a working mother and they meet at the gym to discuss life's issues. Her friend advises her to consider the "whole package" of career and family and to try to find more suitable husband material than her present boyfriend. Jane laughs. However, on the way to a party on Christmas Eve, her car spins out of control and, when the 360 revolutions stop, she finds herself in a new life. She has a handsome and caring husband, two beautiful children, a station wagon and a closet-full of reasonably-priced clothing. Aghast, Jane runs to her old apartment, only to find it occupied by someone else. Having nowhere to go, she reluctantly goes back to her new family's home and tries to sort things out. Her acquired relatives go to church, help out at homeless shelters, and go ice skating. Can Jane learn to appreciate her new roles? This is a lovely movie for families to watch on any given evening, not just at holiday time. It has some good performances, good production values and great messages. How many of us get to "try out" a new path in life and discover the possibilities we may have missed? None of us do, except in a fine movie such as this one. Do you love movies that foster family values in a clean, fun way? Get yourself a copy of this one without delay.

. . . Of The Family Man, in which Nicholas Cage plays a similar part. But this update is engaging, fun and less serious.

A young career-minded woman has an accident and wakes up married with 2 children and a husband who works in a homeless shelter and drug rehab center. She is aghast to find that out because she is a "scrooge" type of person. Sounds familiar? One might call this a preview of an alternative life style. This easily reminds us of a great movie in the past, "It is A Wonderful Life" with James Stewart. It is actually rather nice to be able to see what your life will be like in 10 years. The trouble is that you might not be able to change anything even knowing what is coming. She could have been married to a gangster or a murderer. The acting is quite light weight. Nancy McKeon seems to be going through the motion. She treats her drastic change as if she found herself wearing a different outfit and wondering how it happens. The husband is unconvincingly nonchalant as is the 'doctor'. Post traumatic amnesia requires at least a hospital visit. However there is a small bright spot in this other lackluster movie; it is Dixie Carter as the insufferable mother with a Southern accent. One must not forget that this is a fantasy, one in which explanations are unnecessary about details like why Jane has not aged in 10 years. The movie is a minor variation on the same age-old theme. Do accept the imperfections and enjoy this little bonbon; it is, after all, Christmas.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. Started watching and couldn't tear myself away. A feelgood experience that makes one realize, there are things in life more important than "things". I hope I get to watch it every year, it isn't often a classic in the making comes along.

After a mishap on the road, single advertising vice-president Nancy McKeon (as Jane Berry) finds herself married, with children. All mixed up, Ms. McKeon has apparently landed ten years in the future. You won't know what's going on until the end, but you may have seen this story before. They're calling it "situational amnesia." McKeon has traded her male model-type boyfriend for snuggly Steven Eckholdt (as Sam Keller), the director of a drug and alcohol center for the homeless. McKeon's work has become mothering two cute kids, cooking, cleaning and volunteering for churchy Connecticut groups. Funniest scenes involve bickering parents Paul Dooley and Dixie Carter (as George and Frederica Berry). Most tired scene involves McKeon's Jewish pal and four swishy Christmas chums watching "Sunset Boulevard" with Gloria Swanson. She's right, "It's the pictures that got small."

**** Comfort and Joy (12/1/03) Maggie Greenwald ~ Nancy McKeon, Steven Eckholdt, Dixie Carter, Paul Dooley