Saw Mel Gibson's name splashed on the top of this DVD case, so gave it a look. It actually surprised well. The acting and direction are at times uneven, but the movie manages to maintain an appeal for watching (at least once). We've seen the older woman/younger man situation before, and perhaps when made this had a little more weight behind it as sort of uncommon. The movie takes advantage of a simple story with simple and well-defined characters except for Piper Laurie's character whose sort of revealed over time. The music is unfortunately a bit dated, however the 2 leads and supporting cast do a good job. I particularly liked the father as sort of Grandpa-like - a straight talker with great down-under accent voice and presence. He helped ground the film and make it more comfortable. Mel Gibson does a good job for so much younger although his part may not be too challenging compared to other roles he's since taken. Piper Laurie plays a sort of motherly presence - at times the movie feels like a romance novel, but perhaps that's the point. Worth a look if you don't mind the outdated feel.
