‘Ellen Foster’ A Sensitive Holiday Tale

Sat., Dec. 13, 1997

Faye Zuckerman New York Times Syndicate

Holiday tales are popping up faster than Christmas trees in malls. This weekend is no exception though there seems to be a short respite from “A Christmas Carol” knockoffs.

CBS and ABC deliver contrasting holiday fare, while NBC weighs in with 1995’s nonholiday-themed theatrical “Congo.”

CBS’ “Ellen Foster,” a Hallmark Hall of Fame drama, Sunday at 9, reminds us of the less fortunate during the holiday season. It also drives home the point that family should never be taken for granted.

Ellen’s (Jena Malone) mother (Glynnis O’Connor) has died; her father (Ted Levine) is an uncaring drunk; and her mother’s family wants little to do with her. She suffers her father’s beatings when he does show up at home every few days.

On the Christmas immediately following her mother’s death, Ellen promises herself that she’ll never have a Christmas as bad as that one. The movie follows her search for warmth, caring and a better holiday.

This sensitive tale is about one child’s attempt to cope with adversity. Ellen uses her wit and determination to survive. She draws strength from a few friendships and a boundless supply of hope. “Ellen Foster” is an intelligent story about the resilience of children.

Over on ABC, country music’s LeAnn Rimes stars in feel-good “Holiday in Your Heart” (Sunday at 9). It has all the usual trappings of sentimental junk, as Rimes (playing herself) must choose between her lifelong dream of singing at the Grand Ole Opry and rushing to her sick grandmother’s side.

To solve this dilemma, she calls on her heart and God to lead her in the right direction. Bernadette Peters shows up as an angel to ensure Rimes makes the right decision.

Rimes fans will be pleased with the singing. She performs “Blue,” “One Way Ticket” and “On the Side of Angels.” But even die-hard fans will view this tale as superficial, flat and cliche-filled. Rimes is stiff and ineffective.

Next time around cast Valerie Bertinelli in Rimes’ role, and send the script out for another rewrite.

Highlights

“The Online Adventures of Ozzie the Elf,” ABC tonight at 8: Straight from the Internet comes this cyber-savvy elf. He tries to bring Santa and the North Pole into the computer age.

“The Christmas Concert of Hope,” CBS tonight at 9: In this new holiday special, Natalie Cole brings down the house with performances of “The Christmas Song.” She also sings a duet with Wynonna.

En Vogue sings “Silent Night,” and Kirk Franklin and the Family perform “Jesus Is the Reason for the Season.” First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton makes an appearance. What more can you ask for in a variety yuletide show?

“Christmas Miracles,” ABC tonight at 9: Familiar TV faces such as Melissa Joan Hart and Jennifer Love Hewitt reach into a dead-letter bin at the post office and pull out letters to Santa and make wishes come true.

“The X-Files,” FOX Sunday at 9: When we last left Scully, she was told that a 3-year-old named Emily was her child. In this fast-paced continuation of the tale, Mulder joins the act when he tries to figure out the girl’s origin.

Cable Calls

“Johnny Lang in Concert,” DIS tonight at 10: The young blues artist shows off his talent in a performance from Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. He’s a charmer. The younger set will have reason to swoon.

“Menno’s Mind” (1997), TMC tonight at 9: You’ll go out of your mind if you watch this thin action tale set in the near future. Corbin Bernsen plays a sneering bad guy hoping to manipulate an election with posthypnotic suggestions via computers. When all the dead bodies are counted, and chase scenes have ended, you’re left feeling empty-headed and craving a posthypnotic suggestion never to watch such ridiculous gratuitous violence again.

“Breast Men” (1997), HBO tonight at 9: This sardonic view of the breast-implant business bares a lot. The tale about two greedy doctors, Dr. Saunders (David Schwimmer) and Dr. Larson (Chris Cooper), is intertwined between interviews of women naked at chest level defending their choices to enhance their breasts. The doctors care more about making money then their patients. They turn their industry into a freak show. Schwimmer is a natural at playing sleazy Saunders.

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