Melody Woodman (Mimi Rogers) marries into a wealthy family whose business is manufacturing plastics when she marries Stewart Woodman (Elliott Gould). But the family has huge problems. Stewart's dad is a megalomaniac and a bully who belittles his older two sons who have spent their adult lives working the family business. Eventually Stewart and his brother Neil are in bitter competition with their dad with opposing companies. But the stress is all over - Stewart's dad has to declare bankruptcy. And then Stewart's father and mother are killed one night when returning home with no suspects to be found. Imagine Melody's shock six months later when Stewart and Neil are arrested for the murder for hire of their parents.
The wheels of justice grind slowly as Melody has to learn to do - well - everything! Her bank accounts are frozen, and the life she was living which was that of a commoner married to a prince is over. She is instead living the great American nightmare of being a single mom with three kids, no money, and no training in anything that can earn good money. I'm surprised that this one isn't rated higher. Sure it has the usual Lifetime Movie style tropes, but it also has rich entitled people hitting the skids, and everyone likes to watch that!
It's also a story of female empowerment as Melody learns that, although the near poverty can be exhausting, she likes being independent and making her own decisions. Being married to Stewart she was practically the fourth kid, and thus she has real problems keeping order with the actual kids without Stewart around.
There are just a few things I noticed - Stewart's attorney, Hal Leventhal (Joe Spano) seems to be an A list attorney. If Melody can't afford her rent, how can she afford this guy for years on end? And towards the beginning of the ordeal she is practically having this guy do double duty as her therapist, which would really run up the bills. And something I notice just because I am old now. Leventhal walks with a cane, yet Melody decides it will be a great idea to take a walk on the beach with this guy. It is very hard to walk in sand with a cane. I bet she had to pay double time for that. These are probably just devices for dramatic purposes, but really.
Recommended for people who liked it when the networks would produce an original movie for "sweeps month" that looked like they put some work into it.
