Annie's Point

Nice touch - Allen Ludden's portrait in the son's office. He and Betty White were married for almost 20 years ...

Annie's Point is such a cute family friendly film! Betty White stars as Annie and Amy Davidson (8 simple rules) co-stars as Annie's granddaughter Ella. The movie is completely clean and is meant for family viewing, and I suggest watching this one if you have a family with younger kids. The writing is cliché sometimes, but it's sweet and if you are choosing to watch this movie, then you should expect some cheesiness from it. The movie is funny in some scenes, touching and emotional in others, and then ultimately inspiring. It centers around Annie taking a road trip from her home in Illinois to a place her and her husband wanted to live on the California coast. Amy and Betty have good chemistry on screen together throughout the entire film. I suggest Annie's Point if you are looking for a cute movie to sit and enjoy one day.

Seeing Betty's beautiful smile is all that I needed. Yet, she offers so much more. Yes, the story is simple, like a Hallmark or Lifetime film, but I quickly could see beyond that sort of comparison. Comforting for a family to work through sad memories and create hopeful and happy futures together. I could easily watch it again and again. Each time, I bet I will learn a new lesson.

Annie (Bette White) wants to disperse her husband's ashes at a locale in California that they had named Annie's Point. Annie needs a bypass immediately and she wants to send out the ashes on her 50th wedding anniversary.

The plot is seemingly ridiculous and White recruits her song-loving granddaughter to accompany her on this cross country trip. The film has shades of Geraldine Page's "The Trip to Bountiful." Problem is that it isn't half as good.

With the kerchief tied around her head, White looks like an elderly Russian babushka (grandmother.) If you need a bypass, you don't go running around the country. Take it from me.

Richard Thomas plays Annie's son. He has inherited the business and tries to be a work, work, work sort of guy. He is also a widower.

The film centers on the adventures of Annie and granddaughter. She affectionately calls her Ella-bear.

There is a scene when the two land in jail for trespassing and a nostalgic meeting with Annie's brother. The latter, 20 years younger than Annie, has not seen his sister in nearly 30 years.

We've seen so much of this material before handled a lot better.