Ruby Jean and Joe

OK - ya got Tom Selleck playing Tom Selleck playing the Wagnerian cowboy - and then ya got Jo Beth Williams playing Jo Beth Williams playing the retired ho with the heart of gold, and then ya got new-comer Rebekah Johnson playing the wise-cracking "Tatum O'Neil-alike" third wheel.

Ok, so what's weird vibe about that - over and above just odd - well, it's because the Rebekah Johnson character appears to be about 16 years old and the Tom Selleck character is a 50 something drunk drifter who picks up the 16 old hitch hiking and takes her on as his dusty road-traveling companion - but, oh no, there's no "lolita" vibe there, right? Wrong, there is, it's creepy.

Well, that's the problem with this one - the premise is way hinkcy and no amount of Tom Selleck mustache charm or Rebekah Johnson quirky wise-cracking, or Jo Beth Williams in jeans that were apparently painted on her changes what is basically a story about a Mann Act violation.

So, one word summary - icky.

As this movie began I saw the crystal clear colour, sharp focus, and Western setting, and was about to turn it off. Then the young hitch-hiker appeared and I thought. "Oh no! Cutesy-pooh-made-for-TV family schmaltz," but, I was home, sick, on the sofa, and Tom Selleck's usually worth watching so.... The movie hadn't got very far before I realised that I was watching something pretty extraordinary. It was a movie that was inviting me to think, to think about what it means to be a man, and and in particular, a strong man who is facing the alien world of age and declining powers. Tom Selleck's performance showed, to me, a man who, through his relationship with the girl (great actress by the way!) learnt something about life, and drew strength and comfort from the knowledge, whilst she drew greater strength and understanding of the world as a result of being treated like an adult for the first time. If a really cheesy director had been in charge, I can see these words rolling across the screen at the end: "Old age hath yet his honour and his toil; Death closes all: but something ere the end, Some work of noble note, may yet be done, Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods." (Tennyson)

One of the "best" television movies made by Tom Selleck (just my opinion), that I've had the chance to see. The way Mr. Selleck and Ms. Johnson interacted in the film, gave me quite a bit of 'food for thought', in the way we (the young and old) treat each other, and the things we can learn from each other. Was interesting to find out that it was based on actual incidents that happened to the writer, who died right after the film was completed. Think he would have been proud of how it turned out. Also, just thought Mr. Kevin Lutton would like to know that unfortunately the powers that be in Hollywood, have still not recognized Ms. Johnson's (actress' name is Rebekah Johnson)talents. She only made one other film (don't know if there's anything else in the works at this time.) that I'm aware of. Hope to see her in more in the near future. Jean

It is no fun to get old and this is portrayed throughout the film. The wonderful twist was the incredible power of the eighteen year old girl. We baby boomers can learn a lot from the youth of today. Some of them have such cheerful and refreshing ways of looking at life. Often they see right through entanglements and facades as is demonstrated in part by the central female character in this movie. I hope the actress has a good career because she did hold together well in this one.

This is a simple, endearing film that really hits home. Most people have been at an important crossroads at least once in their lives and know what it means to have someone there whose love can help you make decisions that might be harder, but in the long run, will be easier to live with. Everyone feels like Joe does in this film at least once in a lifetime. If we could all have a Ruby Jean in our lives, the world would be a better place. At first, you might think that the girl who plays Ruby Jean is doing a terrible acting job, but by the end of the film, you'll realize she was perfect for what they were trying to accomplish with the character. She's innocuous, intelligent, pure, and effervescent; and what appears to be a haphazard approach turns out to be perfect. Also, this might be my favorite Selleck role, and I've seen most of his films. He has moments of total perfection, particularly the scene where Ruby Jean confronts him about his drinking and the scene where he finally puts his roping horse out to pasture -- understated and elegant acting.