There is nothing Sue Anne Nivens or Rose Nylon about Betty White's widowed grandmother here. She is simply your typical loving yet feisty older lady who refuses to let her advancing age stop her from doing what she wants to do. Her son (Richard Thomas), having taken over her late husband's construction business, isn't willing to drop what he's doing every time she needs him for something, and as a result, she feels neglected by him. But deep down, he is more than concerned, and actually rather demanding of her changing her lifestyle. That includes moving into an apartment. Realizing that a recommended heart operation might cost her her life, White decides to go do the things she has always meant to do, which includes visiting a few old places where she shared her life with her late husband. Tagging along (reluctantly) is her rather shy granddaughter (Amy Davidson), a talented musician whom White determines to bring out of her shell.
There are some definite connections with "Thelma and Louise" here, an odd combination of today's youth and yesterday's jitterbugger. The focus is on the relationship between the two women, with Thomas a typical too busy to be involved son who learns lessons and wakes up to his mother's quest for life before its too late. You can't help but adore White, and Davidson is a good young actress who shows depth and humanity. They have some wild (if unbelievable) adventures, which include getting arrested for skinny dipping in a private residence and escaping from jail as well. White is very amusing in a scene where she pretends to be blind to make some cash while sketching people at a town fair. Anybody who has a memory of an old house long gone from their lives will appreciate White's desire to see her old homes. This is an entertaining family drama that rises above its predictability thanks to a TV star whom we will always thank for being a friend.
There are some definite connections with "Thelma and Louise" here, an odd combination of today's youth and yesterday's jitterbugger. The focus is on the relationship between the two women, with Thomas a typical too busy to be involved son who learns lessons and wakes up to his mother's quest for life before its too late. You can't help but adore White, and Davidson is a good young actress who shows depth and humanity. They have some wild (if unbelievable) adventures, which include getting arrested for skinny dipping in a private residence and escaping from jail as well. White is very amusing in a scene where she pretends to be blind to make some cash while sketching people at a town fair. Anybody who has a memory of an old house long gone from their lives will appreciate White's desire to see her old homes. This is an entertaining family drama that rises above its predictability thanks to a TV star whom we will always thank for being a friend.