Zoe Gone (2014)

Too much of everything

Great Film overall

Don't Believe the Hype

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

Late night TV, flipping channels and was a fan of Yes, Dear...well kinda and saw that Jean Louisa Kelly was in this, who was in Uncle Buck as the super bitchy teen and I got sucked in.Why reviews dumping on Sammi Hanratty--she is supposed to be a clueless teen that got pregnant and has co-dependent tendencies. This was a big role for a young actress. The low was when Jean Louisa Kelly enters as tough street cop (agent calls and says you want to work, well, better take this gig). Then the mother, Alexandra Holden, yeah, overacting, annoyingly so. Here is a tip for the budding director of TV movies--keep all the actors on screen in character, like Jennifer's cute friend in the park after the baby is abducted--try not to look like "she is remembering her lines or what to do when I don't have any lines." I get it, you're on a tight budget, but the AD needs to keep this train rolling on track. That one scene can ruin a dramatic moment.What Jean Louisa Kelly does best is empathize. She does not do tough, but let her develop emotion and she can carry a scene well. Yes, it's a TV movie, but Lifetime can crank out some winners because the expectation isn't high, so the audience relaxes with more acceptance. I think these are more difficult to do well than higher budget movies--the acting skill isn't as developed, tight budget, easy to lose focus and over-develop a special effect, your main star probably wishes their career went in another direction...hard to hold that together.Bottom line--the main target audience should like this movie. Good movie to show a youth group and have a discussion.

CONTAINS SPOILERSHonestly didn't know what to expect from this film I actually stumbled upon it by accident while looking through the channels and man did I get emotional.Zoe Gone is a great film and deserves a watch for sure in my personal opinion it was very well made and the actors and actresses done a great job, The only real thing I had a problem with is Jennifer (mother) give Zoe (daughter) away at the end but hey that's just me it just didn't go well with me.I know this is not the most in-depth review of a film but it wasn't set out to be that way, I just wanted to say how the film made me feel.In conclusion as I stated it is a brilliant film and definitely deserves a watch but the ending is a bit iffy.

"I don't want it, I don't want it!" screams 16-year-old drop-out Sammi Hanratty (as Jennifer "Jen" Lynne), while giving birth to a healthy daughter. Outside the hospital room, mean mother Alexandra Holden (as Alicia Lynne) taunts nervous father Michael Grant (as Randy Chambers) with his new daddy status. The young man runs away and Ms. Holden tells her daughter she is on her own. Sick of her cry-baby daughter, Ms. Hanratty goes out to a party and gets drunk. Unexpectedly forced to babysit, Holden and handsome step-father Jeff Branson (as Walter) threaten to call Child Protective Services (CPS). It seems like Mr. Grant wants to get back together with Hanratty and the baby, but an incident at the park changes everything..."Zoe Gone" won't get many viewers with that title – "Zoe" is the baby's name and you can figure out the rest...The main problem with this drama is the unconvincing character changes give the three main players. Worse off is mother and grandmother Holden, who begins as bullying and cruel – and ends up as nurturing and supportive. Young dad Grant is fine until his very last scene – which may be a problem with the original script direction. The performers try their best. Lastly, the young leading woman must transcend unbelievable changes in character. Hanratty handles it smoothly, but unconvincingly. The film's thesis seems to be pro-adoption – but, it's unlikely many unmarried and unintentionally pregnant young women are going to want to go through this drama – possibly, it's better to view "Zoe Gone" as a heart-warmer for those who choose adoption.**** Zoe Gone (3/29/14) Conor Allyn ~ Sammi Hanratty, Alexandra Holden, Michael Grant, Jean Louisa Kelly

A terrific film where a 16 year old gives birth and the young father soon opts out of the entire situation. The girl is left to raise the child under the constant reminder of her mother, the latter having had the same situation as a young mother herself.The girl really doesn't want the child but undergoes a total change when the baby is kidnapped. The father of the baby had some plans for the child, attempting to sell the latter to make a lot of money. Obviously, the scheme goes awry and there is near tragedy before everything turns out all right.Just when you think the film is over, the real story-line comes in. Seeing during the situation that she could never handle the child, our 16 year old is willing to give the child up for adoption to a very stable couple. The girl showed unbelievable wisdom and growth in maturity in coming to this. Of course, the scene where she takes leave of the baby is quite poignant.