Hello Sister, Goodbye Life (2006) (TV)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Steven Robman

Writers (WGA):

Alan Marc Levy (teleplay) and
Nell Scovell (teleplay) ...

Release Date:

2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A college student must take care of her 7-year-old half sister after the death of their parents.

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Lacey Chabert	...	Olivia Martin
Sammi Hanratty	...	Celia
Wendie Malick	...	Barbara
David Ramsey	...	Uncle Dennis Klein
Adam Kaufman	...	Joe - Olivia's Boyfriend
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Timmothy Amedee	...	Bartender
Amanda Baker
Dr. Melissa Caudle	...	Legal Secretary
Brandi Coleman	...	Olivia's friend
Donna DuPlantier	...	Legal secretary
Erin Fisk	...	Alicia
Keith Flippen	...	Mr. Calhoon
Douglas M. Griffin	...	Cop
Justin Groetsch	...	Student
Robin Hines	...	Olivia's friend
Mark P. Kelly	...	Business Associate
Chris Kirkland	...	Lawyer
Ann Mahoney	...	Waitress
Mike Mayhall	...	Man at soccer game
Jon Purvis	...	Business Associate
Stephen Rue	...	Attorney
Laura Summer	...	(voice) (unconfirmed)
Heather Thibodeaux	...	Student
Ray Thibodeaux	...	Soccer Dad

Also Known As:

Same As It Never Was (USA) (working title)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Copper Beech Productions

Trivia:

Filming for the movie was primarily done in New Orleans and finished one week before Hurricane Katrina hit. As a result, the film is dedicated to the people who suffered from the hurricane and subsequent flooding.

Goofs:

Continuity: Olivia left her phone in class, then leaves school without getting it, but is shown later that day making a call on her cell phone.

Good Script but...

A very good script and a briskly maintained pace of direction struggle with some handsome but unfortunately one-note performances. While I do not expect Sammi Hanratty in the role of the seven-year-old Celia to show the range and subtlety of of Shirley McLaine, Lacey Chabert as her older sister seems to spend most of the movie locked in low-key, depressed sarcasm and even old hands like Wendy Malick play their characters -- well, if not monotonously, then at least never straying far from the keyboard note they start out at.

You may argue that this is the way movies, especially TV movies are made these days. Movies are made to accommodate demographics, and the demographics for beautiful, busty young actresses like Ms. Chabert are good enough to compensate the viewer for the fact that she does not have the range that she will, one hopes, develop as she grows. For old geezers like me, there is the eye candy and a story that makes some good points and touches our hearts a little. Am I unreasonable to hope for more?