A Piece of Eden Reviews

"There are no new stories," muses the ghostly patriarch of this sentimental family comedy. "Only different characters." And that's certainly the case here: The premise is familiar, but well-written characters and a terrific ensemble cast keep it fresh. Rather than take over the successful Midwestern fruit farm founded by his immigrant grandparents, Bob Tredici (Marc Grapey) decided to make a go of it as an NYC publicist, alienating his father Giuseppe (Robert Breuler) in the process. But when he gets the call that Giuseppe has been rushed to the hospital after a serious accident, Bob rushes home, only to learn that his father plans to leave the farm to Bob's cousin, Gregory (Jeff Puckett). Greg, after all, is far more settled than Bob; he even has an ingratiating wife (Julia Schwartz) and children. In a moment of panic, single Bob claims that he, too, is married, and immediately sends for Happy Buchanan (Rebecca Harrell), his deceptively ditzy new office assistant. Happy agrees to pose as his new wife while Bob tries to upgrade the farm into a flashy, moneymaking tourist attraction and win his stern father's approval. It's part screwball romance, part heartwarming family melodrama, and (aside from a ill-advised bit of nonsense involving the ghost of Bob's grandfather, played by Andreas Katsulas), surprisingly free of the usual mawkishness. John Hancock, whose resume is broad enough to include the classic sports weepy BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY and LET'S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH, directs with great affection, and is blessed with a strong ensemble cast, including Tyne Daly as Bob's Aunt Aurelia, Irma St. Paule as the Tredici family matriarch and the utterly charming Harrell, who first appeared as the pint-sized heroine of Hancock's holiday sleeper PRANCER. Throw in a family curse, a sheep stampede and visiting soap star (Tristan Rogers), and you've got a modest but well-done film with a little something for everyone.