Little John (2002)

A family with a painful interpersonal past attempts to reconcile and forgive. It is realistically difficult but demonstrates the need and value of facing past issues fully, painful or not. Hallmark has given another great movie. Acting is very good. Patty Duke has a small role, performs it well and proves that great actresses just love to act, especially if it is a story worth telling. Those who dislike the movie because she has a small role need to realize that is beside the point and it was her decision to make.

I'd like to preface this review that the actors and acting were superb. The "Little John" movie looked nice enough, seeming to be a good-feeling movie with her dad adopting her illegitimate child, but little is uplifting while it dropped the rape bombshell 3/4 of the way through, demonstrating the essence of a no-win scenario. It then ends with a simple "resolution" and that's it - no real good-feeling about it, giving absolutely nothing pleasant through the movie on which to focus (except a little jazz music).I found it disturbing that the daughter who idolized her father so much couldn't confide in him about her rape when it happened, which would have prevented any estrangement in the first place, and then she judged him for reacting on only what he did know (about 1/4 of the truth). I think this is unrealistic if she truly idolized him - even in the face of rape. I know, she was traumatized . . . Even though she wanted nothing to do with him, he tried to support her by taking LJ in only to find out that, had she been truthful with him, he might have made a different decision in the best interest of the her and the child. The truth is always best-said, no matter how painful. Of course, this may be reality, but why would "Hollywood" consider it entertaining to watch? I watch movies to brighten my life and take my mind off my own trauma. This movie was unpleasant, disturbing, and all four of us watching just looked at each other in the end and commented, "Really?! It wasn't a chick-flick, it wasn't a guy movie, nor was it a feel-good movie, so what was it!" It actually rather ruined our up-to-that-point pleasant day (and 1/2 my night's sleep). I can't recommend it - obviously.

If you are looking for a typical Hallmark 'love love, joy joy' movie, this is not it. The writing and actions taken by each of the characters is very realistic with none of them pulling punches to make the other characters feel better.The story starts with a grandfather who adopts his grandson shortly after his estrange daughter gave birth. This separation was due to her getting pregnant and he became upset because he worked his entire life to send her to college.The story advances 12 years where it is seen the grandfather is becoming sick and the boy is shown to be a hard worker helping him out as much as possible. The boy's great aunt comes for a visit and shows the grandfather a newspaper clipping of his daughter becoming a child advocate judge. The grandfather tells his grandson and shows him the clipping of his mother. The boy has no wish to go and see her but the grandfather insists.Once in LA, the grandfather is taken deathly ill and needs a pacemaker installed. The boy, knowing his grandfather wants to see his daughter, goes to the court house and gets her to come to the hospital without revealing who he is or whom they are going to see. Upon discovering it is her father and that the boy is her son, she walks away without saying a word.The daughter agrees to meet with her father where she still doesn't want anything to do with him. She then speaks to her son. She discovers that he doesn't care about her in the least just like it appears she does not care for her father or for him.The next scene is the pivotal scene of the movie. The father and grandson walk into an empty courtroom where she is working late. The boy is taken for a drink by the daughter's clerk. The father and daughter pick up the same argument that started 12 years earlier, neither one budging an inch on their stance. It is then revealed by the daughter that the pregnancy happened because of rape and that she gave up her son because of the emotional flashbacks she had to that night but also to protect the boy from finding out how he was conceived.The ending is not your typical Hallmark ending. The mother tells the son about the rape and assures him that he is not going to turn out like his father. The boy takes this in then walks into the house without any sentiment to his mother. The grandfather and boy go back to the ranch. Although we don't know the amount of time that has past, we see the mother pull up in her car. Her son walks up to her where she kisses him on the head and he finally hugs her.This movie had some strong emotional characters to it. The father angry at his daughter for getting pregnant but then adopts the son. The mother dealing with being raped then looking out for her child by placing him up for adoption. The 12 year old son who uncaring attitude towards his mother is finally cracked when he learns the truth of what she has been through and why she did it.The reunion at the end shows a family that has just started the mending process. The forgiveness is there but you can still feel the hurt that the last 12 years have brought. We don't know if the boy will ever call her mom or if she will truly forgive her father but that isn't what this story is about. It is about anger and hurt in a family that has lasted a long time. It is about how actions of the parents can sway a child's life forever be it for the child's good or bad. It reveals the emotional trauma caused by rape and a pregnancy by rape.Like I said before, the writing is very strong and harsh but none of it masked the true feelings they had for each other. No lies were told to protect each other or themselves from the pain. The biggest compliment is that each characters emotional feelings were very true to form especially the mother who wanted to physically and emotionally block out the pain the rape has caused her.

Well if one can go from being in college to being a full-fledged judge with everyone very excited about you in only twelve short years, with at least three of those years spent in law school, then what can't you do? Being a mom to a half grown boy who is already just about raised and just about perfect should be a piece of cake. What a waste of everyone's time and talent. BTW, the kid is so cute, if she isn't convinced, I'll take him. No problem. Tell Grandpa the kid was right the first time and that the aunt and uncle would do in a pinch. Heck, I'd prefer the vet from the diner in terms of human warmth to the frozen judgette.