Follow the Stars Home (2001)

Source

Director Dick Lowry
Based on  Follow the Stars Home  by Luanne Rice
Writers  Luanne Rice (novel), Sally Robinson (teleplay)
Cast  Kimberly Williams-Paisley (Dianne Parker), Campbell Scott (David McCune), Eric Close (Mark McCune), Alexa PenaVega (Amy Williams), Blair Brown (Hannah Parker), Roxanne Hart (Tess)

This is one of the best stories ever written for it doesn't only touches the heart, mind, and senses, but it also touches the soul and spirit.  LUANNE RICE, a very prolific writer of quality literature, surely has a way with words and thankfully, the screen adaptation was beautifully written by SALLY ROBINSON and wonderfully directed by DICK LOWRY.
It's easy to be infatuated with a guy like Mark(ERIC CLOSE). He is handsome and he has an adventurous spirit.  Disappointingly, his adventurous spirit does not include loving a daughter with severe genetical abnormalities.  
Every life is precious and everyone has a purpose in this world.  We might not understand it most of the time, but each and everyone of us were put in this world for a reason.
KIMBERLY WILLIAMS played the role of Dianne like it was really written for her.  She owned it.  She was, she is,  and forever will be, Dianne Parker-McCune.  
ALEXA VEGA is Amy Williams.  I've always liked this girl since Little Giants as little Priscilla O'Shea.  Of course, I've followed her career and seen every Spy Kids movie.  I've watched From Prada to Nada because of her, and I've seen a lot(not all) of her Hallmark movies.  She was very, very convincing here and my favourite was the bridge scene where she fought for the life of her puppy. Her pseudo stepfather is the devil incarnate!  
AMANDA and CAITLIN FEIN is(are) little Julia.  Both of them touched my heart and even wrenched it for her seizures reminded me of my brothers' struggles.  PG and RJ have crossed over, but I would never pass on the chance to be their big sister.  
I was very involved in this movie.  Eric Close was so good in being an asshole that I was planning his...no, I'm just exaggerating.  Of course I wouldn't do that.  I know what's real and what's not.  It's just that he was so good at it(like he's so good when he's the good guy) that it felt so real.
CAMPBELL SCOTT was always great.  I reckon I first encountered him in Dying Young and even then, he was already immersed in his role.  He's very admirable as David and I'm sure, whether people are familiar with the book or not, they would root for him over Mark.
It's sad that Dianne didn't see David as a man worthy of her love, but if she did see him, Julia wouldn't have been born.  
If Mark thinks Julia is a deal-breaker,  David thinks Julia is a blessing.
Sigh.  I could yap and yap and yap and yap, but the long and short of it,  this is a movie worth your time and energy. Cast
Kimberly Williams as Dianne Parker-McCune Campbell Scott as David McCune Eric Close as Mark McCune Alexa Vega as Amy Williams Blair Brown as Hannah Parker Roxanne Hart as Tess Tim Ransom as Buddy Amanda and Caitlin Fein as Julia Parker-McCune  💖💖💖 Suzy Nakamura as Martha
Kudos to everyone involved in this film, even those unmentioned. 👏👏👏
Thanks for your time!