Daddy's Dyin'... Who's Got the Will?

I may be exaggerating about how bad the movie is. Sometimes I got the impression the performances were good, and occasionally this was funny. But it wasn't what I was hoping for, based on the title.

Yes, the four adult children of Buford Turnover have arrived at his Texas ranch to visit their father one last time. Sara Lee has to clean up her house so the very conservative and holier-than-thou Lurlene won't see anything inappropriate. Evalita, an aspiring country singer, arrives engaged to Harmony, a long-haired vegetarian hippie. And Orville brings his wife Marlene, who is trying to lose weight but can't seem to please her husband no matter what she does. Sara Lee claims to be marrying Clarence, but that's just a cover story so her family won't think she's ... can I use that word? I'd better not. Mama Wheelis (who doesn't look that much older than Buford) is even more Christian (mostly meaning judgmental) than Lurlene. It is her son who is dying, and he lost his wife Linnie Sue years ago.

All anyone seems to care about is what they're getting when Buford dies. And no one seems to know where the will is. Orville is the greediest and least caring of the whole group.

These people tried hard to make me laugh, and I suppose there's nothing wrong with a movie like this being partly a drama, but it just wasn't enough for me.

If any performances can be said to stand out, I would say Patrika Darbo as the frustrated Marlene, and Judge Reinhold as the sensitive and caring Harmony. Despite his rugged appearance, Harmony was a really nice person. This is partly good writing, of course.

The most touching moments, for me, were Buford's delusions as he watched his family singing around the piano. He thought he was seeing his wife and his young children.

There was lots of good music. I especially enjoyed the country band which Evalita sang with (until Harmony decided to join in; if I wanted to listen to Montgomery Gentry, I would).

It depends on the individual, I suppose. Southerners may enjoy this more than those from other parts of the country.

The problem with this movie is the complete lack of main characters to care for on any level. They are mostly cruel, angry people who do not deserve a thing. Almost worthless outside the rather charming romance that develops between the characters played by Judge Reinhold and Patrika Darbo. Tess Harper is also a very sympathetic and likable character as a daughter always living in the shadow of her much loved sister and willing to sacrifice too much of her own life for some validation.

The characters represent a variety of small town stereotypes that many will be quick to recognize. This humorous look at family dysfunction, love, culture and catharsis is touching and often painfully accurate. The movie shows how one family can produce a wide variety of personalities which come into conflict as each grows older and confronts their own life issues. Moreover it demonstrates how difficult it is for each to trust and understand the motives of the others. Rheinhold provides an interesting catalyst as the incarnation of an outward focused stereotype of "big city" loose morals.

It reminds me of so many family get togethers where misconstrued intentions, conflictive personalities and misunderstanding overshadow shared history and love. Though not well known, it is my favorite movie.

This is one the funniest films I've ever seen. The characters are very believable. I just love the character Mama Wheelis. Beverly D' Angeleo is wonderful as Evelita. I think Patrika Darbo is very cute and funny in this movie. The whole movie is wonderful.

I am partly writing this review in response to some of the other reviewers on here that mention how unlikeable some of the characters are in this film. How can it be missed that their neurotic tendencies are supposed to be part of the comedic element??

This film is nothing more than something to watch when you have nothing else to do and are in the mood for a couple of laughs. It has its poignant moments, it is well paced, is well acted by most of the cast. I especially liked Molly McClure as Mama Wheelis. Her role reminded me of a Ma Kettle-type character (for those of you who remember or know who Marjorie Main is).

I thought that this film was much better than a lot of today's comedies...most of which contain the same 'ol predictable bathroom, endowment and sexual orientation jokes and are painfully unfunny.

5 out of 10 stars