Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material including domestic violence and alcohol abuse.
Starring Mira Sorvino, Barry Pepper, Cole Hauser and Maxwell Perry Cotton
Directed by Jon Gunn (My Date with Drew)
The best “chick flick” of the year!
A compelling drama that explores the different meanings of being a parent through the gritty, realistic lives of the struggling, blue-collar Porters (Barry Pepper and Mira Sorvino), and the privileged Campbell family (Cole Hauser and Kate Levering). Their lives intersect, intertwine and collide, all for the love of a little boy. This film bravely exposes the humanity in each character reminding us that we each have the potential to be the best and worst versions of ourselves at any given time.
As you can probably imagine I’ve not read a single page of a Karen Kingsbury book, but I have watched my wife cry (sometimes uncontrollably) as she has read each and every book (all 2000 of them – sarcasm implied). Yeah, my wife is a huge Karen Kingsbury fan. So when I learned they were making a film based on her best seller “Like Dandelion Dust,” I knew that would be a date night movie for sure. And when my wife came home from Blockbuster with this one, I anticipated a boring two hours for me and a tear-fest for her.
As the movie started I was trying to keep an open mind, and Mira Sorvino, Barry Pepper and Cole Hauser were making it pretty easy. Before I knew it, I was being sucked in by a well-written, gut-wrenching story that would cause my eyes to water on more than one occasion – yeah, I’ll admit it, I cried.
But in my defense, the film packs some pretty big emotional punches. Like the heartbreaking scene in which the Campbells explain to Joey that he has to go with the Porters for a short period of time. Meanwhile, we know this will eventually become the boy’s permanent situation.
As I mentioned earlier, the cast is simply amazing but it was Maxwell Perry Cotton that really drew me in and made me care how the story turned out. Instead of being a typical whining little kid, Maxwell plays the part perfectly.
Like Dandelion Dust is a well-acted, earnest film about adoptive parents’ worst nightmare. And their nightmare is often very difficult to watch, but it is still Worth Buying.
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
Although there is nothing offensive, this film has some adult themes like drug and alcohol abuse as well as spousal abuse that may be too disturbing for younger viewers.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
Q: What’s the message/theme of this movie?
A: There are several noteworthy themes, but the one that resonated most with me was “waiting on God.” Throughout the film, the two couples fighting for Joey act impulsively without praying. In an attempt to solve their problems they make things worse.
Q: How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
A: We constantly find ourselves in situations where we just don’t know what to do. And hopefully this film will cause us to stop and seek God in those difficult situations. The Bible is full of wisdom when it comes to decision making. Look at these verses:
- Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
Philippians 4:4-7 – Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
James 1:5 – If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
Psalm 46:10 – Be still, and know that I am God.
A: The best thing we can do this week is seek out someone whom we trust to help us make wise decisions. That may be a parent, a youth pastor or pastor, someone who will pray with and for us. Listening to God and knowing when to act and when to wait on Him is one of the most agonizing struggles we face on a daily basis. So we need all the help we can get.
Jonathan McKee
Jonathan McKee is the author of over twenty books including the brand new The Guy's Guide to FOUR BATTLES Every Young Man Must Face; The Teen’s Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices; If I Had a Parenting Do Over; and the Amazon Best Seller - The Guy's Guide to God, Girls and the Phone in Your Pocket. He speaks to parents and leaders worldwide, all while providing free resources for youth workers on TheSource4YM.com. Jonathan, his wife Lori, and their three kids live in California.