This is a character driven romantic comedy about a high-powered Manhattan single mother who opens Pandora's box when she seeks out the anonymous sperm donor father of her young son. Tackling issues of motherhood, proposal of marriage, and the challenges and choices of parenting, this is a story that hits at the heart of how, why and whom we love.
In this well developed comedy Julie (Vanessa Williams), a mid-40s successful New York City reporter/columnist has a great job, a rent controlled apartment, a successful photojournalist boyfriend named Ted (Michael Boatman) and a six year old son Jake (Jeremy Gumbs), whom she conceived via anonymous sperm donor.
One day Julie gets called in for an emergency parent-teacher conference and learns that her son has been acting up in class. She is told he'll have to be tested for his hypertension and is on the verge of being expelled. Julie blames herself and it's easy to do because her mother Mona (Eartha Kitt) has made her feel inadequate for not being a stay-at-home mom and not being married. The on-screen relationship between the classy Ms. Williams and the legendary Ms. Kitt is something to marvel about. The dialogue of these two characters is smart and snappy. However, Julie won't concede that Mona is right, so she decides the blame must be genetic on the anonymous father. Through a investigator, Julie learns the identity of the donor and meets him without telling him the reason. The 30 something year old man is Paul Cooper (Kevin Daniels), a struggling actor and law school dropout. He's quite intelligent but hasn't found his niche.
As Julie gets psychiatric help for Jake it appears that he can benefit from a father figure in his life. So Julie's charismatic boyfriend pops the question of marriage and Mona is happy her daughter is finally getting her life in order. Meanwhile Paul has appeared at Julie's door hoping to help him promote an off-off broadway show. Now Paul and Jake bond. No matter how hard Julie keeps Jake and Paul apart it doesn't work. But in the meantime her feelings drift towards him and him to her.
The strength of this heart-felt comedy is carried on the backs of it's complex characters, because Venessa Williams shines and Eartha Kitt glows. Ben Vereen is given a small part as he portrays Paul's father Chuck Cooper, a starchy retired attorney living in a well to do New Jersey home with a loss of interest in his wandering son. Supporting members of Manny and Patricia Sanchez, Tommy Nelson and Stephan Spinella keep this movie afloat. Don't expect to watch a block busting movie, because it's not. I found this film to be predictable but genuinely fun to watch.
Directed by: Richard Schenkman
Running time: 99 minutes
Release date: June 15, 2007
Genre: Comedy/Drama and Romance
Distributor: Fox Meadow Films
MPAA Rating: This Film Is Not Rated
