The Last Word

"MacLaine has something that shines through and elevates a film like this one. The movie is prefab indie whimsy, but she gives it an afterglow."

"Much mellowing and life-learning ensues in a plodding dramedy, though the glint in MacLaine's eyes makes it almost worth your while. Almost."

"You won't believe a single minute of it, but you might, despite better judgement, find yourself caring by the end."

"There's some scathing satirical potential in this setup - the privileged white doyenne exploiting black poverty - but that would require backbone, edge and honesty, none of which this movie finally has."

"So empty and witless, dressing up a formulaic story with boatloads of unearned sentiment and embarrassing, one-note characters, that it seems destined to lie here as a bloated paperweight on MacLaine's own memory."

"It's a role that allows MacLaine full range to be feisty, funny, blue (both kinds) and ruminative, but in a movie that ultimately fails her by refusing to be what MacLaine so often has been in her career: surprising."

"Casting is everything in director Mark Pellington's latest, with MacLaine in blazingly fine form as she dignifies the movie's every pre-programmed emotional cue while blossoming from dragon lady into nurturing giver of life lessons."