Ellen Hollman has great stage presence but I don't think the character fit her well- especially with how she played her romantic interest. Liked her as the author and the daughter. Home Improvements "Al" played a nice dad but was not a major character. Marion Ross played the grand mother in a supporting role and it wasn't quite right. The mother's role was the most unusual and maybe the most memorable. The greatest take away from the movie was the friendship developing between mother and daughter.

I might not mind watching the movie again and I did not fall asleep. The most memorable scene was mom and daughter in a musical dance scene dressed in mini skirt Santa outfits collecting money for the orphanage.