The Baby Dance (1998) (made for TV) director: Jane Anderson starring: Laura Dern, Stockard Channing, Peter Riegert, Richard Lineback
To sum things up quickly, The Baby Dance is a great movie. With Laura Dern nominated for a Golden Globe and Stockard Channing nominated for a Golden Globe, Emmy and Screen Actors Guild award all because of their performances, how could it not?
The story revolves around Channing, who along with her husband, are a well-off couple trying to have a family. Several unsuccessful attempts have put them in the adoption process. Dern, a rather poor, married, mother of four, is yet again pregnant and who, along with her husband, realize they don't have the money to raise another child. They live in a trailer with no air conditioning, drive an old and constantly breaking down truck, and are willing to put the baby up for adoption.
The struggles mount as Channing, who is willing to pay for a new air conditioner and medical expenses, finds that her money is being spent to fix the truck, pay Dern's mother's bills and other non-baby related expenses. The adoption comes close to being called off, but Channing really wants the baby so she pulls through.
When the baby is finally born, a complication during the birthing gives rise to the chance that permanent brain damage might have occurred. Do they take the baby or does Dern keep it? Watch the movie and see.
The photography is great and even the supporting cast put on believable performances. The movie holds it own during it's 95 minutes and keeps you interested in what's going on, even if it is a little uneventful at times. This is one movie where you pause to go get a drink instead of just letting it play.
My rating: ***1/2 of ****.
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