It's obvious that the character of pre-teen Juliette Goglia is going to eventually come to accept grandpa Ernest Borgnine, but it's going to be after lots of bratty temper tantrums, nosy inquiries and revelations about how his ex-wife (now deceased) bashed him to his daughter (in a coma after a bad car accident) who in turn bashed him to the granddaughter. These details are eye rolling and trite (as the man's always to blame regardless of both sides of the story or what the truth is), and you can see why Borgine had to get away.
He's a veteran character actor now involved with musical comedy star Katharine Helmond (who admits to having known the ex-wife) who helps melt the little girl's heart and get her to stop talking in snotty sneers. Borgnine only finds out that he even has a granddaughter when a social worker shows up at the hospital after he's notified about his estranged daughter. At least Goglia gets to better know the truth, hysterically telling her friends that he only became a bad guy in the movies was because he was too ugly to be a song and dance man.
Borgnine's pretty much the main reason to tune in, although Helmond is terrific in a role that Shirley MacLaine could have played in her sleep (especially with the wig Helmond is wearing), and Jamie Farr and Quinn Redeker are great as his old pals. It's set in L. A. at Christmas so there's that sentimental manipulation as well. Too bad the family element is pushed too much because it indicates the sad truth that sometimes the best Christmas gift is to be estranged from them.
He's a veteran character actor now involved with musical comedy star Katharine Helmond (who admits to having known the ex-wife) who helps melt the little girl's heart and get her to stop talking in snotty sneers. Borgnine only finds out that he even has a granddaughter when a social worker shows up at the hospital after he's notified about his estranged daughter. At least Goglia gets to better know the truth, hysterically telling her friends that he only became a bad guy in the movies was because he was too ugly to be a song and dance man.
Borgnine's pretty much the main reason to tune in, although Helmond is terrific in a role that Shirley MacLaine could have played in her sleep (especially with the wig Helmond is wearing), and Jamie Farr and Quinn Redeker are great as his old pals. It's set in L. A. at Christmas so there's that sentimental manipulation as well. Too bad the family element is pushed too much because it indicates the sad truth that sometimes the best Christmas gift is to be estranged from them.