Safe Passage (1994) is a relatively simple family film, even though the family in question is relatively complicated. The matriarch of the Singer clan, Margaret (Susan Sarandon), is our focal point, a woman suffering through a failing marriage and the daunting task of raising seven sons. At the heart of this story lies the theme of dysfuction: from the everyday fights and arguments to Margaret's previously-mentioned marriage (or lack thereof), Safe Passage does not sugarcoat middle-class American life, as many family dramas tend to. In that sense, it's a little more refreshing than your average TV movie of the week.

Speaking of TV movies, director Robert Allan Ackerman is no stranger to the genre. Safe Passage was his first feature film; since then, he's directed only one other film (1999's The Reef), having otherwise remained in the boundaries of TV land. For the most part, Safe Passage escapes the clutches of the genre's drawbacks: it's slightly more focused, the performances are generally stronger, and it doesn't go fo a cheap, happy ending. The film follows Margaret's experiences as a near-single mother as she struggles to maintain her sanity, and it hammers home the point that life isn't always easy. Specifically, her personal problems are put on hold after a premonition that one of her sons may be in great danger...but that's where the spoilers end. The real story is in the family itself, and how it tries to come together in the midst of potential tragedy. It's nothing new or groundbreaking (even by 1994 standards), but Safe Passage plays its cards well.

Susan Sarandon (Bull Durham, Thelma & Louise, and real-life partner of Tim Robbins) delivers a noteworthy performance as Margaret Singer. It's not her most memorable role, but she delivers a solid, emotionally stirring performance. Also of note are Nick Stahl (Terminator 3) and Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings), who play sons Simon and Izzy, respectively. These are but three fine performances from a decent all-around cast, which is reason enough to keep the film above water.

Storywise, the film struggles on occasion to break free from mediocrity. Long story short: despite the relatively good performances and the realistic portrayal of the family, I sometimes felt like I had switched over to TNT by accident. That's not an insult to the film by any means, but more an observation of the genre's influence on director Robert Allen Ackerman. It didn't make the film better or worse overall, but it did become distracting on occasion. Also, the main themes of motherhood don't exactly make me the target audience for the main character's story, there's more to appreciate than a simple story of a family going through hard times.

Still, the film's reluctance to sugarcoat life and "take the easy way out" made for an entertaining viewing experience. Although it may have aged a bit since its theatrical release in 1994, Safe Passage is one worth checking out if you enjoy family dramas, but not recommended for anyone looking for a sentimental, feel-good movie. While it's not as hard-hitting as American Beauty or The Ice Storm, this is a film that doesn't back down from much, and that's a good thing.

New Line's DVD release of Safe Passage is a mixed bag. While the technical presentation is very good, don't look for a wealth of extras here. In short, this isn't exactly a "Platinum Series" disc by any stretch of the imagination, although it makes for a decent movie-only offering.

The menu designs were better than expected, and featured handwritten-style text and animated transitions and backgrounds (think of a more feminine version of the Almost Famous: Untitled DVD). Navigation was also simple and well-designed. This 97-minute film was divided neatly into 23 chapters, and no layer change was detected. Packaging was not available for this screener copy, but hopefully it'll avoid the New Line "snapper curse".

From a movie-lover's standpoint, Safe Passage wasn't anything exciting or original, but it delivered a solid story with a few great performances. It's not for everyone, but there's more to like about this film than some might think. While the disc itself is hit-or-miss, Safe Passage is a decent choice for any lover of family dramas that don't pull any punches, and a respectable effort from first-time director Robert Allan Ackerman. Still, despite its modest strengths, everyone but die-hard fans of the film will be better off by trying this out before they jump right in. Rent It.