I'm 25 years old right now and have lost my copy of this movie unfortunately. I don't remember if it was good according to my refined standards now, but for some reason, when I was about 7 or 8, I taped this movie off of television when it was on WUTV-Fox 29 and continuously watched it over and over again like it was my favorite. So this movie is one of my favorites because of that. Simple but unusual premise, two mentally retarded people meet and fall in love and look for their family's blessing. Maybe at the time I thought handicapped people were funny, maybe I found the story touching, maybe I sympathized with Andrew, the main character who gets into more trouble than he usually deserves. Regardless, it was something that my 8 year old, until around 12 years old, mind enjoyed watching over and over again. Enjoyable film and well worth a viewing if a copy can be found, especially to see one of Julie Kavner's acting ranges before she was Marge Simpson.
6 Reviews
An Exceptional Tv Love Story
gnowaczek9 March 2021
Seen a few films about people with handicaps such as Like Normal People, Profoundly Normal and The Other Sister, i found this simple yet endearing little gem on You tube Sunday morning and have watched it three times.
Richard Thomas & Julie Kavner delivered top notch performances as a young couple who meet, fall for each other and strive to have a life of their own without others saying they can't.
Supporting cast members include Robert Loggia, Elizabeth Allen, Norman Alden, Frances Lee McCain, Scott Jacoby and Robert Wightman.
As the film begins we see Kavner's character Janet as a shy 21 year old woman who is placed in a home run by a caring and supportive couple, struggling to adapt to a new environment and different surroundings.
Things turn around for the better when she meets a fellow resident named Andrew who seems well adjusted , has two jobs and gets into trouble once in awhile, soon enough these two adults begin to grow and mature emotionally as his love and support changes her life.
One of my favorite scenes occurs near the end of the film when after standing up to her parents and receiving their approval to marry Andrew and Janet are reunited.
A poignant and wonderful film.
Richard Thomas & Julie Kavner delivered top notch performances as a young couple who meet, fall for each other and strive to have a life of their own without others saying they can't.
Supporting cast members include Robert Loggia, Elizabeth Allen, Norman Alden, Frances Lee McCain, Scott Jacoby and Robert Wightman.
As the film begins we see Kavner's character Janet as a shy 21 year old woman who is placed in a home run by a caring and supportive couple, struggling to adapt to a new environment and different surroundings.
Things turn around for the better when she meets a fellow resident named Andrew who seems well adjusted , has two jobs and gets into trouble once in awhile, soon enough these two adults begin to grow and mature emotionally as his love and support changes her life.
One of my favorite scenes occurs near the end of the film when after standing up to her parents and receiving their approval to marry Andrew and Janet are reunited.
A poignant and wonderful film.
The two John Boy's in the same movie?
akurschybee29 January 2021
Birds of a feather belong together.
mark.waltz25 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Okay, so their relationship is a little antagonistic, but they come to depend on each other and eventually fall in love. TV stars Richard Thomas ("The Waltons") and Julie Kavner ("Rhoda") are mentally disabled, far too coddled by their families, with Kavner far too over-protected and unable to be around people without some sort of angst occurring. When she is placed in a special school, she hates it from the start until Thomas begins to pay serious attention to her, and while she has her moments of being unable to cope with things, she definitely needs to experience everything her family is desperately trying to protect her from and begin to make her own decisions.
Definitely an odd couple (but in the best way possible, just quirky, not weird), they are fun to watch. Unless they were observed for long periods of time, no one could tell they were anything less than what society considers normal. A scene where an overly friendly Thomas is laughed at on a local bus just indicates youthful judgments and bullying, and he has the perfect response. Others in their peer group show resentment that they've found happiness, while family reactions are mixed. Both Thomas and Kavner are likeable with her raspy voice rolling her lines off with feisty, determined gusto. Definitely a couple to root for even though there are some very bittersweet moments.
Definitely an odd couple (but in the best way possible, just quirky, not weird), they are fun to watch. Unless they were observed for long periods of time, no one could tell they were anything less than what society considers normal. A scene where an overly friendly Thomas is laughed at on a local bus just indicates youthful judgments and bullying, and he has the perfect response. Others in their peer group show resentment that they've found happiness, while family reactions are mixed. Both Thomas and Kavner are likeable with her raspy voice rolling her lines off with feisty, determined gusto. Definitely a couple to root for even though there are some very bittersweet moments.
I Like The Movie
IMKidHunni18 October 2021
I Liked The Movie & It Was Great & Wierd Seeing Both Actors That They Both Played John Boy Walton On The Walton's!
I Thought Those Parents Of Janet's Was So Stupid Separated The Two From Each Other Can Tell That Andrew Really Loved Janet & I Didn't Like That The Dad Slapped Janet's Brother.
I Thought Those Parents Of Janet's Was So Stupid Separated The Two From Each Other Can Tell That Andrew Really Loved Janet & I Didn't Like That The Dad Slapped Janet's Brother.
Good TV movie
BandSAboutMovies30 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Before The Other Sister, there was this movie, which has Richard Thomas (John-Boy from The Waltons* to some, Shad in Battle Beyond the Stars to me) and Julie Kavner (Marge Simpson!) as mentally challenged adults who want to get married, despite the protests of her parents, who are played by Elizabeth Allen (who often played in game shows as a couple with Charles Nelson Reilly) and Robert Loggia.
To confirm that yes, this is a TV movie, there is an appearance by Scott Jacoby. Billy Drago also shows up, which pleases me to no end.
Director Richard Pierce would go on to direct Steve Martin in Leap of Faith and, perhaps infamously, Richard Gere and Kim Basinger in No Mercy.
This is a film from another era, a time when people with mental handicaps were kept hidden and lived sheltered existences that supposed that they were barely human beings. Thankfully, times have changed.
*Fans of The Waltons will be interested to know that both versions of John-Boy are in this. Thomas played the role from 1972-1977, while Robert Wightman - who took over the role of the titular slasher in Stepfather 3 - assumed the part from 1979 to 1981.
To confirm that yes, this is a TV movie, there is an appearance by Scott Jacoby. Billy Drago also shows up, which pleases me to no end.
Director Richard Pierce would go on to direct Steve Martin in Leap of Faith and, perhaps infamously, Richard Gere and Kim Basinger in No Mercy.
This is a film from another era, a time when people with mental handicaps were kept hidden and lived sheltered existences that supposed that they were barely human beings. Thankfully, times have changed.
*Fans of The Waltons will be interested to know that both versions of John-Boy are in this. Thomas played the role from 1972-1977, while Robert Wightman - who took over the role of the titular slasher in Stepfather 3 - assumed the part from 1979 to 1981.
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