Little John

A family with a painful interpersonal past attempts to reconcile and forgive. It is realistically difficult but demonstrates the need and value of facing past issues fully, painful or not. Hallmark has given another great movie. Acting is very good. Patty Duke has a small role, performs it well and proves that great actresses just love to act, especially if it is a story worth telling. Those who dislike the movie because she has a small role need to realize that is beside the point and it was her decision to make.

What a horrible sin to waste the talents of this Oscar and Emmy-winning actress! In a storyline that is barely passable in itself (what 12 year old kid acts as perfect as little John does???) Duke is merely scenery as law clerk for Reuben. Her screen time is limited, as it was in her last Hallmark film, A Season for Miracles (1999) but at least in that one her character was an important aspect of the story. Here she is simply window dressing. What ever happened to the days when she was starring in gorgeous Hallmark productions such as Harvest of Fire (96) and A Christmas Memory (97) both of which she should have received Emmy nods for.

On the other hand, Ving Rhames does all he can in his role as the grandfather, but Gloria Reuben probably needs to have her acting phoned in for her, as it looks like she is reciting them from a teleprompter or something - no feeling, just words.

And the ending absolutely sucks. It plays it safe once again, when one of the few redeeming assets of the movie was how the mother-son reunion was not written from a Hallmark card, but much more real. In the end everything is a mess and the reader sits there wondering why he or she just wasted 2 hours of their time.

My score: 5/10

Gloria Reuben, Ving Rhames, Robert Bailey, Jr. Star in Little John a very good movie about A family court judge's life is turned upside down when her father and long-lost son-whom she thought she gave up for adoption show up and try to make amends. I recommend it. James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 4/20/2021.

Well if one can go from being in college to being a full-fledged judge with everyone very excited about you in only twelve short years, with at least three of those years spent in law school, then what can't you do? Being a mom to a half grown boy who is already just about raised and just about perfect should be a piece of cake. What a waste of everyone's time and talent. BTW, the kid is so cute, if she isn't convinced, I'll take him. No problem. Tell Grandpa the kid was right the first time and that the aunt and uncle would do in a pinch. Heck, I'd prefer the vet from the diner in terms of human warmth to the frozen judgette.

This is such a good story, with such good acting!! I have always enjoyed Ving Rhames, and Gloria Reuben, both great actors! And I'm so glad to see that today, Robert Bailey Jr. is still acting! I had never seen, or remember this being on, and I'm so glad I found it on Directv! For the movie to go through each character's feelings, to finally reveal the main reasons at the end, made it all the better!! I highly recommend this to be watched, for a movie you won't forget!!! Plus that's my kind of ending!!!