TV Review: Relative Stranger, A Hallmark Channel Original Movie

Relative Stranger, a Hallmark Channel original movie which premieres on March 14 (9/8c), is the story of the struggles faced and overcome by a prodigal father returning home. Walter Clemons (played by Eriq La Salle), is a former football star, sidelined by a knee injury, who had been chased from home six years previously by the specter of his own failed expectations. After several job prospects fall through in other states, rather than return home to face the situation head on with his loving family, he turns to alcohol and solitary defeat, leaving his family to cope with being abandoned by him.Upon receiving word of the death of his father, Walter knows it is time to face the ghosts of his past. With the encouragement of his A.A. mentor, Father Gary (Dan Castellaneta), he determines to go back and try to make amends with his family for the years he has lost. Thankfully, no one gives Walter a pass. The loving tongue lashings he receives from his mother, Pearl (played by Cicely Tyson), are a great example of how “open rebuke is better than secret love.” Pearl confronts her son with his root problem: Walter blames his father for his own lack of initiative and is feeling sorry for himself to the point of debilitation and defeat. In yet another rich performance which we have come to expect from Miss Tyson, his mother teaches him that seeking the pity of his estranged family is no way to mend their relationships and win back their confidence. Her wisdom speaks volumes to all who have lost their way home.The best part of this movie, however, is not that everything turns out perfectly. Walter's teenage daughter, Denise (Dana Davis), turns out to be one of the most difficult people to face. Her reaction to her father is actually spot on and very accurately portrayed. When Walter voices his bewilderment over Denise's hostility toward him, her mother, Charlotte (Michael Michele), explains what has happened to his little girl since he left. Divorced fathers should listen very closely to what she has to say at that point. It may help them understand their own children's struggles.Denise's friend, Shawn (Andre Kinney), is a key figure in helping to bring Walter back into Denise's good graces. After witnessing a withering scolding of her father when he attempts to reconnect with her, Shawn takes Denise aside and helps her see what's really happening. He tells her a lot of things about herself which every girl with an absent father knows but hates to admit. As he says, “You can't be mad for him leaving and mad for him coming back at the same time.” Because of Shawn's loving rebuke, Denise finally has the heart-to-heart talk with her father which helps them come to a better understanding of one another. This conversation should be a real eye opener for all fathers who may be confused not only by what their families expect of them but also so desperately need. The only unnerving situation for me in this movie is Walter's wife, Charlotte, and her conduct with Walter's brother, James (Michael Beach). While Charlotte is to be commended for laying down and strictly enforcing house rules for her daughter regarding “bringing home boys,” her obvious, open intimacy with James speaks volumes about her own values (or lack thereof). Children, and especially teenagers, pick up very quickly on the hypocrisy of the adults around them. Unlike fiction, a real teenager at this point would be more likely to be furiously rebellious about the “house rules” and would be sneaking around doing more than math homework with the boy she brought home. Though some girls with absent fathers may push away guys and refuse to trust them, most tend to go in the opposite direction, seeking the loving attention they cannot get from a healthy father-daughter relationship. In this regard, perhaps the author wishes to encourage girls in similar situations to be like Denise and have enough self-respect to avoid compromising relationships while they are emotionally vulnerable.Denise's little brother, Andy, however, doesn't seem to have the same struggles with his father's return that his older sister does. Carlos McCullers gives a very convincing performance of this character and, in my opinion, really steals the show. He is not only a really cute kid but is an excellent actor to boot.  The truth is, I found myself in tears quite a bit throughout this story. It hit really close to home for me since I, too, am a child of divorced parents with a father who was emotionally disconnected from my siblings and me. Being the oldest child in our broken home, I can, of course, relate most to Denise. I know firsthand the anger, the feelings of betrayal, the heart-ripping pain, and the steely resolve not to care whether or not one's father ever returns. Yet, I also know the deep love for one's father which is always struggling to come to the surface, always hoping against hope that he will one day wise up (or grow up) and come back to you. It may not appear a girl feels that way, as is the case with Denise, but I can tell from personal experience that, if a man will come forward, as Walter did, and take responsibility for his own negligence, apologize from his heart (a few real tears might help), and commit to a long-term, father-child relationship, he just might be surprised to find his kids more than ready to forgive. It may not be right away, but as Walter found in this story, it is definitely worth waiting and fighting for.I believe this is an important film for men, especially fathers, during these times of economic instability and job insecurity. The situation surrounding Walter's absence is a good example of how some men get confused about what true success is. Yet, there is a lot of encouragement here that it's never too late to seek a way back home.

Article Author: Marcia Wilwerding

Marcia Wilwerding has been married 20+ years to the love of her life. They have graduated three of their four beautiful children from their home school. Marcia promotes healthy, happy, holy homes primarily through writings on her blog and other sources …

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