Gracie's Choice
A choice no child should have to make.
Gracie Thompson hasn't been so much brought up as dragged through life by her manipulative, drug-addled mother. Missing meals, dodging cops and landlords, changing schools the way most kids change socks, Gracie and her sister and brothers, each the product of a different dead-beat dad, seem to have hit the skids. Then Gracie makes a choice to get a job, succeed in school, find stability. And her choice isn't just for herself. At the age of 17, she decides to be the mother, emotionally and legally, her siblings never had.
Inspired by a true story and powered by remarkable performances - Kristen Bell (TV's Veronica Mars) as the determined Gracie, Anne Heche in an Emmy-nominated performance as her nightmarish mother - Gracie's Choice champions the magic of love in even the most desperate circumstances. Meet Gracie. And share the magic.
Member Reviews
Breaking the Cycle of Abuse is Possible - BigGirlBlue2
This LifeTime made-for-tv movie is a true story of Gracie Thompson and her struggle to survive her abusive, heroine addicted mother and keep her siblings together.
Kristen Bell delivers an inspiring performance as Gracie, an intelligent teenager with a strong will and loyalty to her brothers. She spent most of her childhood taking care of them (as well as her mother) while traveling in and out forty-one different schools.
Anne Heche plays her mother Rowena. She uses her children, she uses her boyfriends and she uses her mother to fill her addictions. This is one of Heche's most difficult roles and she does an excellent job of making the audience hate her.
With the help of a school counselor and a social worker Gracie files for emancipation from her mother. She eventually fights to terminate parental rights all together so she won't have to worry about her three younger brothers being taken away from her and being put into separate foster homes. Going to school, achieving A's, working part-time and taking care of a household is a lot to ask most adults never mind a teenager. Gracie proves it's doable.
With so many children being abused and separated and lost in the system it's nice to see a story where the system worked to help one family stay together. Life is full of choices and there comes a time when someone has to decide to make the right one. Gracie's choice is a perfect example of how one girl's choice changes the cycle of abuse in her family. Great film.Rent It For the Story Not the Acting - E
I am guilty of renting this because of Kristen Bell. She is terrific in Veronica Mars - I wondered if she was as good in other roles?
This is an inspirational story and huge kudos to the real Gracie who inspired this story. If you enjoy feel-good TV-movie-of-the-week features, this is for you. However, as a review of the movie itself, I found it over-acted, melodramatic, and poorly edited.
This is your typical Hallmark-ish type movie. I still like Kristen Bell, but I will stick to Veronica Mars.Better than I expected - mugsie
I don't remember what drew me to this movie; I am glad, however, that I watched it. It is a surprisingly gritty and moving look at the way one youngster has to struggle to hold onto her sense of self and family with no real help from the adults in her life. The acting is excellent, and shows off the high quality films that are currently being made for TV. I definitely recommend this one.
Member Reviews
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Breaking the Cycle of Abuse is Possible - BigGirlBlue2
This LifeTime made-for-tv movie is a true story of Gracie Thompson and her struggle to survive her abusive, heroine addicted mother and keep her siblings together.
Kristen Bell delivers an inspiring performance as Gracie, an intelligent teenager with ...Rent It For the Story Not the Acting - E
I am guilty of renting this because of Kristen Bell. She is terrific in Veronica Mars - I wondered if she was as good in other roles?
This is an inspirational story and huge kudos to the real Gracie who inspired this story. If you enjoy feel-good ...Better than I expected - mugsie
I don't remember what drew me to this movie; I am glad, however, that I watched it. It is a surprisingly gritty and moving look at the way one youngster has to struggle to hold onto her sense of self and family with no real help from the adults in her life. ...