Pretty Good

Let's be realistic.

Don't Believe the Hype

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Ordinary Miracles is a TV movie on Hallmark Channel that features Jaclyn Smith,Lyndsy Fonseca and C. Thomas Howell together with Sarah Aldrich,Corbin Bernsen and Erik Eidem.The film was about a troubled teen that is scooped up by a tough San Diego judge whose conscience causes her to bring the girl home with her to live when together they face tons of insecurities and personal problems to forge a special bond in this tale of survival, love and family.It was directed by Michael Switzer.Kay Woodbury is a tough, no-nonsense judge whose intractability in legal matters is intensified by a number of personal crises, including a bitter feud with her jurist father and her anguish over the recent remarriage of her ex-husband. Thus, Kay is no mood to play nice when teenager Sally Powell is brought before her. Harboring an intense hatred for the father who apparently abandoned her, Sally is a seemingly incorrigible delinquent who has already sent away from four foster homes. Figuring that she could no worse than anyone else, Kay takes Sally home on a trial basis. The girl proceeds to behave as atrociously as possible, but surprisingly Kay does not decide to write her off as a bad job, but instead concludes that what the girl needs is someone to trust and something to believe in. In this spirit, Kay locates Sally's birth father and upon being convinced that he was not motivated by selfishness when he dropped out of his daughter's life, secretly contrives for Sally and her dad to reconnect.In so doing, Kay finds her own way toward forgiveness, not only of those whom she feels have wronged her, but also of herself. This TV movie is an entertaining character study between two people who learn from each other.In this case,it is a judge and a juvenile delinquent.It is a good drama and well-acted one especially with Jaclyn Smith playing Judge Kay Woodbury. Don't miss it on DVD whenever you get an opportunity to rent it.

The Conservatives must have had a field day in bashing this movie where a liberal judge takes home a foster girl who just about everyone has given up on.The story is the relationship that develops between both of these people, while the girl's miserable boyfriend encourages her to steal jewelry from the judge so that they can both flee and rid themselves of foster homes permanently.If this isn't enough, the judge, played admirably by Jaclyn Smith, finds the father, a widower, who couldn't cope following the tragic death of his wife when Sally was 3. The judge makes believe that she wants him services for landscaping before she tells him the truth.Even with this obvious liberal bias, this film was extremely well done. The performances are first rate,notably Jaclyn Smith and Lyn Fonseca as the troubled child she takes in.I guess that the judge saw the Spencer Tracy-Mickey Rooney 1938 classic-Boys Town. Remember, there is no such thing as a bad boy. Everyone has redeeming qualities.

Recently broadcast for the first time on British TV, I was rather pleased with this film which simply details the trials and tribulations of growing up without stability in a family home. When Judge Kay Woodbury takes in troubled 16-year-old Sally Powell, they get off to a bad start, but gradually start to respect one another....Young actress Lyndsy Fonseca is very convincing as Sally, an understandably angry (and also sad) teenager who finds it difficult to fit in. Jaclyn Smith also makes light of her role as caring Judge Woodbury, who apart for upholding the law, is a woman who leads a solitary existence....Ordinary Miracles is not a unique story in any way, but the taut direction and beautiful settings make it more than just a typical television film. The attention to detail is immense, and viewers can certainly imagine the emotions of the characters. Great interaction between Jaclyn and C. Thomas Howell too, who portrays a seemingly ordinary man who must face up to his past. It was a pleasure to watch them together, and Jaclyn has certainly kept her beauty - hard to believe she was pushing 60 at the time!This is a fine film and certainly one of Jaclyn's best TVMs in recent years (indeed, her first tele-movie since 2000's Navigating the Heart), even if the ending is pretty predictable. A good effort from all concerned.

This was actually very good. Didn't get to see the ENTIRE thing, but it was quite a good movie. The actors and actresses were very convincing. The moral of the story is basically believing in angels, and also explains the consequences of wrongful actions. It tells the story of a tough rebel named Sally, who at the beginning of the movie had trouble adjusting to her new foster mother, but as the movie goes along, she begins to understand that her foster mother loves her, and she begins to loosen up. I thought this was quite a good film, I do recommend it. This comes on on the Hallmark channel every now and then, if you have cable.