Million Happy Nows (A)
- Director: Albert Alarr
- Writer: Marisa Calin
- Producer: Marisa Calin; Crystal Chappell
CGiii Comment
A soapy film about a fading day-time soap star!
Unfortunately, it has all the production values of a day-time soap. This is pure melodrama with a liberal amout of clichés thrown in to keep it familiar.
The subject matter is challenging, Alzheimer’s. However, the execution is a formulaic, paint-by-numbers, reach-for-the-Kleenex weepy...not a million miles away from what the lovey-dovey Hallmark channel produces over and over again!
The only problem is...the tears don't come. Why? Because...there is no complexity to the story. It's too safe. When a film is too safe and predictable, what's the point?!?
A challenging subject always deserves a challenging film. This is not it!
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
Veteran actress Lainey Allen (Chappell) is tired of being sidelined for younger talent on the soap she has starred in for twenty years. Coupled with finding it harder to retain her lines, she decides not to renew her contract, and she and her publicist and partner, Eva Morales (Leccia), move to a beach house overlooking the ocean on the Central California coast. The move highlights some small changes in Lainey's personality - mild depression that Eva puts down to leaving the show. But when Lainey starts to forget more than can be attributed to stress, Eva insists on a visit to the doctor. A Million Happy Nows chronicles Lainey and Eva's changing relationship as they struggle to deal with the diagnosis of Lainey's Early Onset Alzheimer's, the prospect of an indomitable woman's future of dependence and her single support system - the woman who was once in awe of her, became everything to her, and will now look after her.
Cast & Characters
Dan Gauthier as Jason;
Robert Gant as Dr. Hansen;
Dendrie Taylor as Julie;
Mark Hapka as Zach;
Susan Seaforth Hayes as Katy;
Donnell Turner as Mr. Handsome;
Dale Raoul as Wendy;
Roberta Valderrama as Mindy;
Crystal Chappell as Lainey Allen;
Cuyle Carvin as Mike;
Andrew Dits as Dan;
Michael Corbett as Aden;
Hillary B. Smith as Val;
Jessica Leccia as Eva Morales;
Andrea Sabatino as Nurse