Follow the Stars Home [DVD]

This movie was categorized under kids, drama, and romance. It is not a movie for kids. There is no nudity or strong profanity, but there are violent scenes, several of which involve a violent man abusing his wife, his stepdaughter, and a puppy. The violence isn't graphic, but it would be upsetting for children to witness it.The man who abandons his wife and disabled daughter disgusts me nearly as much as the abusive stepfather but in a different way. He only wants a perfect family scenario.This was a good movie for adults who enjoy drama.

I love this movie. Have tissues handy

One of our favorite movies! Was so happy to finally find it online.

Follow the Stars Home, based on the book of the same name by Luanne Rice, is the story of Dianne (Kimberly Williams), a young woman in love with handsome sailor Mark McCune (Eric Close). The two begin a whirlwind courtship and marriage, but when Dianne discovers that the baby she is carrying will be born with severe neurological and physical disabilities, Mark walks out, leaving Dianne to raise Julia (Amanda and Caitlin Fein) alone, with only her mother to help her.Mark's brother David (Campbell Scott), a doctor, offers to help Dianne raise Julia by providing medical checkups and support, and is worried about Dianne's health as sole caretaker. Meanwhile, Amy (Alexa Vega, Spy Kids) a girl from a troubled home, becomes a "mother's helper" to Dianne and her mother.The rest of the film plays out as a more-or-less formulaic story, with the prerequisite dose of angst, guilt, hospital visits, abusive boyfriends, and self-pity thrown in, before the (anticlimactic) conclusion. However, Dianne fails to fall into the "martyred mother of a handicapped child" camp. I personally know several acquaintances who have handicapped children (one has a daughter with lissencephaly who is nonverbal, cannot sit up, crawl, or roll over, and has multiple seizures every day), and Dianne's steadfast devotion to Julia at the expense of her own health (and occasionally happiness) rings true. It takes a great deal of courage and love to be a lifetime caretaker of a severely handicapped child, and Kimberly Williams' portrayal was one of the best things about the movie.Mark's role as the now-you-see-him, now-you-don't ex was less successful; his limited dialogue doesn't really allow much in the way of character development, and his subsequent appearances felt forced and unnecessary. David fares better as the loyal "fifth wheel" whose feelings for Dianne are largely ignored throughout most of the movie, yet he still gives his time to help Julia. Stage actress Blair Brown as Hannah, Dianne's mother, brought a degree of strength and wisdom that served as a direct counterpoint to Amy's drunken mother Tess (Roxanne Hart).Follow the Stars Home is generally family-friendly, with the exception of Tess's physically abusive boyfriend (there is a scene involving animal cruelty as well as physical violence towards a child). However, the slow pace and adult plot will likely bore younger audiences.Overall, this was a decent enough love story about mothers and daughters, second chances, and learning to trust that should appeal to fans of the original novel, and fits in well with the usual Hallmark Hall of Fame demographic.

I've seen this movie several times. It was at the most recent viewing that several thoughts came to mind. I worked in a major medical center for several years and on occassion my clinic would see children who were severely disabled. I would think what kind of life were the kids and their parents having - spending many days in the hospital. I still don't know if I have an answer but the film has me thinking about it again. I can empathize with the husband not being able to deal with the catastrophy (from his viewpoint) of a disabled child. My ex-wife was diagnosed with a possible cancer (ultimately found to be not a cancer). When she was describing how she was feeling (very very scared) I didn't know what to say so ultimately just sat there like a dope and looked at her. Not my best performance as a husband. This movie brought that scene in my own life back very vividely. Watching the mom's helper after she had been injured in a car accident apologizing for not being able to take care of Julia and Julia's mom and her alcoholic mother brought back other memories of my alcoholic father and how at the age of 12 I was trying to figure out ways to make him not drink. I never did come up with a solution but seeing the torment in the child (who was apparently younger than me) brought the moments of over 40 years ago back to me. So for me, this movie was thought provoking on many issues about my own life. I'm not sure that this is a movie for everyone. Some have said it has a good ending. I'm not sure. There is a pending death and you won't if Amy's mom says sober. There are uncertainties in this movie just like in real life. But at the conclusion you are at least hopeful that things will work out ok for everyone. Ultimately this was a hard movie for me to watch but at the same time it was beneficial. The acting was exceptional and the feelings and emotions they all conveyed were easy to understand and feel. I recommend this movie highly but I'm not sure it is a movie that kids will easily understand. Parents should stand by for lots of questions which have very hard answers.

This movie touches you in so many ways, how a mother can love her child no matter what and to give up so much, it is such an incredible movie there is so much more but don't want to give everything up.

love it