Mom at Sixteen (2005) (TV)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Peter Werner

Writer (WGA):

Nancey Silvers (written by)

Release Date:

March 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

It's about the choices you make next.

Plot:

Pregnant sixteen year old Jacey's well-meaning mother forces her to keep the birth a secret and decides to raise the baby as her own.

Plot Keywords:

Teenage Pregnancy | Teenage Mother | Lifetime | Number In Title

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Danielle Panabaker	...	Jacey Jeffries
Jane Krakowski	...	Donna Cooper
Clare Stone	...	Macy
Tyler Hynes	...	Brad
Colin Ferguson	...	Bob
Mercedes Ruehl	...	Terry Jeffries
Hollis McLaren	...	Marlene
Rejean Cournoyer	...	Mr. Cheevers (as Rejean J. Cournoyer)
Dawn McKelvie Cyr	...	Gretchen (as Dawn Cyr)
Megan Edwards	...	Linda
Matthew MacCaull	...	Dr. Hughes
Sabrina Jalees	...	Sarah
Deborah Allen	...	Pauline
Anastasia Hill	...	Trea
Leah Fassett	...	Gena

Also Known As:

Just a Baby (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

Brazil:86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Netherlands:AL

Filming Locations:

Canada

Company:

Von Zerneck Sertner Films

Trivia:

In order to keep the film as realistic and current and possible, most of the discussions in the health class discussion scenes was improvised by the actors. Jane Krakowski would simply name a topic and the young actors would answer honestly.

Quotes:

Charley, 5 years old: I'm Charley Cooper and I'm going into Kindergarten.
Bob: Uh ha and how do you feel about that?
Charley, 5 years old: I'm happy cause I'm good at reading and numbers.
Bob: Anything else new in your life?
Charley, 5 years old: I got a baby sister last year.
Bob: And Where did she come from?
Charley, 5 years old: Inside of my mommy's tummy.
Bob: And where do you come from?
Charley, 5 years old: Inside of my Jacey's tummy.
Bob: Who's Jacey?
[...]

Done to death?

When I sat down to watch this it was purely because I had nothing else to do; this subject area's been done to death. Unlike anything else I've seen, this film showed the young mother's perspective and I could actually feel Jacey's pain as she didn't know whether she'd rather have her baby or keep her secret. I also think it showed the incredible sacrifices mothers will make; most other films and programmes about this subject show cold mothers who either kick their daughters out or resent them if they stay, which is not always the case. I would recommend this film to anyone and I hope to see Danielle Panabaker in something else soon as her acting is second-to-none.