The Face on the Milk Carton

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.

This movie was fantastic! Could have followed the book a little better, but all-in-all, it was a great adaptation. A must see. You might want to watch the movie first then read the books. The sequel was also part of this movie. (Whatever Happened to Janie?) Kellie Martin was fantastic as Janie. I couldn't have picked a better actress for the role.

I saw this on Lifetime sometime after it had originally aired and it dawned on me on whether or not this girl's decision would have been as difficult had this been about a girl who had been adopted and then had found her birth parents. It also could have been a much different flick if she had appeared to the Sands (her biological parents) after having been married and expecting. Kellie Martin plays an incredible role alledgedly based on a true story and gives a real performance with a lot of emotion than the usual shallow fare seen by so many teenage actors. A lot of credit has to go to the actors portraying the Sands and the Jessmons for providing Kellie a stoic and emotional base to create her role. The story of Solomon's tale of the the mothers is used as a wonderfully inspiring parallel and the dreamy flashbacks of the girl's hazy flashbacks of being kidnapped. This is a wonderful movie to make any parent pull their kids tighter, but watch the hands when you hug your teenage daughter!

I liked the books by Caroline B. Cooney better, but the movie wasn't bad. It was actually quite enjoyable as a girl sees herself as a kidnap victim on the back of a milk carton and sets out to find her real family and unlock the secrets of her past. I liked it. Read the books and see the movie, and decide which you like better. I enjoyed them both. I thought the casting was great and the situation very intense and suspenseful, making you think, "What if?"

*** out of ****