Directed By: John Kent Harrison
Starring: Brooke White, Joe Flanigan, Phylicia Rashad, Jayme Lynn Evans, & Bobby Soto
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
My Rating: 6 / 10
Ah, the first movie of a new year...there is something so refreshing and nice about beginning a whole new year of movie-reviewing. Starting 2011 off is the made-for-television movie, Change of Plans, starring American Idol-alum Brooke White. Marketed as part of the Wal-Mart and P&G collaboration to "bring back family movie night," Change of Plans is one of the most syrupy sweet movies I've probably ever seen. Had it been released in theaters, it wouldn't have been able to tread water. But, by being released on television at the family-friendly hour of eight o'clock, it is exactly what it intended to be, with no false pretenses about what it is. That isn't some back-handed compliment. Change of Plans is actually a rather well-made movie, aside from all the cinematic schmaltz, sporting far better-than-expected performances, as well as a rather touching and, at its core, genuine portrayal of adoption following tragedy.
Jason and Sally Danville (Joe Flanigan and Brooke White, respectively) are a young married couple who have been absolutely consumed by their jobs ever since they were married. He designs engines for planes. She is an aspiring musician on the verge of getting her big break. Then, an old friend of Sally's is killed in a tragic accident, leaving behind four children: Jordan, Javier, Kaleb, and Sung-Lee (Jayme Lynn Evans, Bobby Soto, Jakobe Dempsey, and Clarissa Suwoko, respectively), most of whom have been adopted from the various countries they visited while working with the Peace Corps. And, wouldn't you know it, the only people who could possibly adopt the four children are...Jason and Sally. They agree to take temporary custody, just until the lady from child services, Dorothy (Phylicia Rashad), can find them a home. But, as the two families share one home, will they also merge into one family?
Jason and Sally Danville (Joe Flanigan and Brooke White, respectively) are a young married couple who have been absolutely consumed by their jobs ever since they were married. He designs engines for planes. She is an aspiring musician on the verge of getting her big break. Then, an old friend of Sally's is killed in a tragic accident, leaving behind four children: Jordan, Javier, Kaleb, and Sung-Lee (Jayme Lynn Evans, Bobby Soto, Jakobe Dempsey, and Clarissa Suwoko, respectively), most of whom have been adopted from the various countries they visited while working with the Peace Corps. And, wouldn't you know it, the only people who could possibly adopt the four children are...Jason and Sally. They agree to take temporary custody, just until the lady from child services, Dorothy (Phylicia Rashad), can find them a home. But, as the two families share one home, will they also merge into one family?
Let's face it, you know the answer to that question. Change of Plans doesn't have a single original or thought-provoking thought in its head...but come on, if you aren't moved by this movie in the slightest bit, then you have to be a cold-hearted soul. You see, this movie isn't original, but its heart is in such a good place, and it doesn't pander for emotions. There are some scenes that are quite poignantly-written, such as when young Sung-Lee finds a stuffed zebra, her mother's favorite animal, while shopping. Change of Plans succeeds primarily because it understands the process of adoption, including the beauty and heartache of it. Some of the children transition well and relatively easily, while others are more resistant. Even though the movie is tooth-achingly sweet, how it approaches and portrays adoption seems, to me, to be rather genuine. It is not overly positive and happy, nor is it dark and depressing. It finds a comfortable medium in between that even many theatrical films never achieve.
As for Brooke White, making her highest profile career move since American Idol, she certainly fares better than other Idol alums in acting (ahem, Kelly Clarkson), though she still has a way to go before challenging Jennifer Hudson as the only alum with an Oscar. A warm and open spirit during her tenure on the hit show, she translates that well to her first acting role. It remains to be seen whether she will be able to handle darker roles (And, let's face it, everything is darker than this.), but Change of Plans has peaked my interest in her career. In many ways, it seems like the perfect first role for her. It gives her experience acting and working on a film set, without tackling really hard-hitting, high-profile material. If there is one glaring problem with the movie, aside from its saccharine sweetness (the ending, gah, the ending...so cheesy), it's the completely obnoxious in-movie advertising. They pull cereal out of the cabinet...pause for Great Value logo. Two characters slip on baseball caps...bam, Wal-Mart logo. Change of Plans would have been even better (and probably a better advertisement for them), had Wal-Mart and P&G not marked their territory all over it. It deserves better...or, at least, more subtle advertising. A simple "Brought to you by..." label during commercials would have sufficed. Other than that, Change of Plans is a sweet and pleasant, though in no way groundbreaking, film for your family movie night.
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