Interesting film where an English professor, who is widowed, is forced to come to grips with the past when his daughter's real father suddenly shows up after 13 years.
Seems that the real father walked out on his pregnant wife and she divorced him to marry the professor. Unfortunately, she dies of cancer at 36. Our "father" had never gone through the process of legally adopting Amanda, beautifully portrayed by Kay Pannabaker. Ms. Pannabaker is the sister of the Pannabaker who plays the daughter of James Woods in the television show "Shark." The sisters resemble each other. Speaking of resemblance, Rob Morrow, who plays the professor is a dead-ringer for Dustin Hoffman. The latter would have had a field day in the part.
The story is interesting as the child is swept off her feet by her real father, John Sullivan. (James Denton) The fact is that he is a multimillionaire who shows his daughter the best of everything. Of course, he files for custody of his daughter and wins the case.
It's here that this story begins to falter. Cliché driven themes take hold. Amanda is abandoned on Thanksgiving as Sullivan has to close a big business deal. Then there is the ultimate fight between dads where the usual Hollywood lines are repeated: "You weren't there when she broke her arm or cried for 6 months after her mother died."
The end is satisfying and is not totally unexpected.
Seems that the real father walked out on his pregnant wife and she divorced him to marry the professor. Unfortunately, she dies of cancer at 36. Our "father" had never gone through the process of legally adopting Amanda, beautifully portrayed by Kay Pannabaker. Ms. Pannabaker is the sister of the Pannabaker who plays the daughter of James Woods in the television show "Shark." The sisters resemble each other. Speaking of resemblance, Rob Morrow, who plays the professor is a dead-ringer for Dustin Hoffman. The latter would have had a field day in the part.
The story is interesting as the child is swept off her feet by her real father, John Sullivan. (James Denton) The fact is that he is a multimillionaire who shows his daughter the best of everything. Of course, he files for custody of his daughter and wins the case.
It's here that this story begins to falter. Cliché driven themes take hold. Amanda is abandoned on Thanksgiving as Sullivan has to close a big business deal. Then there is the ultimate fight between dads where the usual Hollywood lines are repeated: "You weren't there when she broke her arm or cried for 6 months after her mother died."
The end is satisfying and is not totally unexpected.