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I hate to write "A really good TV movie" as my summary title, but that is really the only way I can describe "The Face On The Milk Carton". I have seen it many times and loved it each and every one.

This movie is based on the first two novels of the 4 novel series by Caroline B. Cooney. I have read every one. Although the movie changes a lot of details and characters, (most likely due to lack of time) the movie captures the true essence of the books.

Janie Johnson sees a photo of a missing girl on the back of a milk carton and suspects that it is her. The first half of the movie is based on the first novel entitled "Face on the Milk Carton". It is about how Janie deals with the prospect that she was kidnapped and how to accept that her "parents" may not really be her parents. The second half is based on "Whatever Happened to Janie?". Janie discovers that she is actually Jennie Spring and that she belongs with her real family in another state. All throughout these events, she is supported by her friends and her boyfriend Reeve.

All of the acting by this wonderful cast is as good as it gets. Kelly Martin has since become one of my favorite actresses.

I won't give any more information away about this movie. I hope you will see it for yourself. I have frequently seen it on ABC Family Network. "Face on the Milk Carton" is an excellent movie. I think you will enjoy it as much as I do. I also suggest reading the books. They are aimed towards teenagers, but anyone can relate to the characters in both the books and the movie.

You really have to read the book to understand why hair color was so important to this story. The four fiction books are not based on a true story. In the storyline, the unique red hair color was the link that connected Janie to her biological family. The movie was excellent although the movie combined the first two books. There have since been two more stories; a total of four books exist in this series. They are terrific books.

Kellie Martin plays a girl who sees her face (a baby photo) on the back of a milk carton, and finds out about her mysterious past. It's a good movie, but the book series by Caroline Cooney is much better. They are more mysterious with more attention paid to detail. Of course, they had to cram in two books' worth of material into an hour and a half movie. And for some reason, the characters' names are different in the movie than in the books and some characters are changed or left out altogether. It's good time filler, with strong performances by Kellie Martin, Sharon Lawrence and Jill Clayburgh especially.

"Face On The Milk Carton" is a very interesting and effective movie with yet another great performance (at least of the ones I've seen anyway) by Kellie Martin, who apparently has retired from acting. It looks like an after-school special, but unlike one, there are no easy answers (except maybe for the final scenes). It doesn't patronize, or try too little or too much, and has characters we truly care about. I would have preferred a different ending. Why? The movie, of course, eventually wants to have it both ways by the end (or should I say, both families?) I think this taking the easy way out. But still, the movie is acceptable as is.

Grade: B+

The movie starts like a sort of mystery/thriller,when Janie pursues the truth about her past. Along the middle we find out what has happened to her and the movie changes into a human drama. I could really identify with Janie here, putting myself in her shoes. How she copes with the very sudden changes in her life really made me think about parents and family relations.

Kellie Martin(Janie) gave a fine performance.Very much recommended.:)