This incredibly uneven story starts off hinting that it will be a cute Disney movie. David Strathairn visits his old Army buddy from Vietnam, Danny Glover, and brings along his half-Vietnamese daughter, Zoe Weizenbaum. While David goes East for lung cancer treatment, he leaves Zoe in his friend's care. Danny doesn't want anything to do with her, but with her spunky, persistent personality, she slowly starts winning him over. Doesn't that sound like a sweet little movie? It even takes place in a log cabin on top of a beautiful forest-y mountain with lots of farm animals to feed and care for!
Well, if that's what you're in the mood for, don't watch this one. Out of nowhere, it turns into an extremely heavy drama. With drama comes great acting, but is it worth it? I argue that this movie isn't. There are comedic scenes, a hint of romance, and then all of a sudden there's screaming and crying. (No, I won't tell you why.) The film was dramatic enough showing the plight of many veterans living alone in the forest because they can't cope in society. It sobered the audience enough by talking about the importance of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D. C. The lessons taught in the movie could have been the same even without the tragedy - with exception of "no good deed goes unpunished".
There's really no reason to rent this movie unless you want to see the talent of a child star who ended up choosing not to pursue acting anymore. Zoe is very pretty and has a sweet, endearing presence. But this movie is just too sad to recommend watching. You're better off with The Deer Hunter; at least you know what you're getting into. And in case you thought it would be cute to see Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman together again after Beauty and the Beast, they don't even have any scenes together. Ron's character is a very tragic one, as he plays a shell-shocked veteran with such trust issues, he's booby-trapped his shack in the forest.
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to an upsetting scene involving a child, I wouldn't let my kids watch it.
Well, if that's what you're in the mood for, don't watch this one. Out of nowhere, it turns into an extremely heavy drama. With drama comes great acting, but is it worth it? I argue that this movie isn't. There are comedic scenes, a hint of romance, and then all of a sudden there's screaming and crying. (No, I won't tell you why.) The film was dramatic enough showing the plight of many veterans living alone in the forest because they can't cope in society. It sobered the audience enough by talking about the importance of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D. C. The lessons taught in the movie could have been the same even without the tragedy - with exception of "no good deed goes unpunished".
There's really no reason to rent this movie unless you want to see the talent of a child star who ended up choosing not to pursue acting anymore. Zoe is very pretty and has a sweet, endearing presence. But this movie is just too sad to recommend watching. You're better off with The Deer Hunter; at least you know what you're getting into. And in case you thought it would be cute to see Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman together again after Beauty and the Beast, they don't even have any scenes together. Ron's character is a very tragic one, as he plays a shell-shocked veteran with such trust issues, he's booby-trapped his shack in the forest.
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to an upsetting scene involving a child, I wouldn't let my kids watch it.