The Show
The only reason this 1992 TV movie is on DVD is because megastar Jim Carrey plays one of the main dramatic roles, that of alcoholic Tim, one of the messed-up Carter kids that are center to this melodramatic catch-all. But despite it being a curiosity "before they were stars" piece, the movie itself is actually quite engrossing, with some decent, if dated performances.

Matt (William McNamara, Copycat) is the Carter family's golden child, the handsome Yale student with the beautiful, rich fiancée ("Full House"'s Lori Loughlin.) With the wedding on the way, the Carter house should be full of happiness, but military dad Phil (James Sikking, "Doogie Howser, M.D.") and uptight socialite Lisa (Bibi Besch, Star Trek II) have their hands full with their less-successful children. Tim drinks his failures away, while Karen (Jayne Brook, Gattaca) supports her artist husband financially, so they can't afford to start a family.

The family with secrets idea has been done before, and done with less schmaltz, but that doesn't make this take a forgettable attempt. Matt's secret tops those of his siblings, and has further-reaching consequences, some of which may not be as powerful now, 12 years later, but are still handled well by the script and the actors. In fact, Jim Carrey's performance, in a somewhat one-dimensional role, is one of the better outings he's had in his career. Because of the way society has changed since 1992, this is a period piece in some ways, but it likely still rings true in many homes across America. There are also some interesting plot developments along the way toward the climax that will reach across demographics. It's something for everyone.

For a television movie, the production is beyond expectations, with little touches that enhance the story. The use of the family dinner table to show the status of the family itself is a subtle touch in a genre not known for such qualities. Yes, it's very much a stage-play on film, like another underrated family-with-secrets drama, The House of Yes, but director Ken Olin ("thirtysomething," "Alias") tries to add visuals that enhance the dialogue-driven story. In the end, you get a well-rounded low-budget TV movie that's better than it really should be, with a side-order of dramatic Jim Carrey. Unfortunately, it's also open-ended, so you don't know what happens in the end. Such is life though.

The DVD
Fox has released this little-known, but well-remembered TV movie in a full-screen bare-bones edition. The disc has English and Spanish subtitles, as well as scene selections. The menus are static and, oddly, anamorphic widescreen, as are the scene selections. There's one extra, but it's not all that great. See "The Extras" to find out more.

The Quality
The full-screen video looks much better than I remember it, though there's some odd vertical grain that's evident during the brightly-lit scenes (of which there are only a few, as the lighting budget seems rather small.) The video is solid, though soft at times, with some occasional shimmering around the edges. The color leans toward a cool palette, but looks good nonetheless.

Aurally, the movie sounds good, reproduced in 2.0 Dolby Digital. There are plenty of sound effects and background sounds, but this is mainly a dialogue-driven movie, and it all sounds good. No problems here, but nothing reference quality. In other words, exactly what you'd expect from a good TV movie.

The Extras
Just one extra here, though its inclusion was a nice touch. A short commercial for the movie is found on the main menu, listed as a TV spot. When I saw that option, I thought it was going to be one of the original commercials for the TV broadcast, but it was actually a commercial for the original video release. Disappointing, but still dated and cheesy.

The Bottom Line
If you like Lifetime movies or any of the Danielle Steel films, you should probably already own this movie, as it is right up your alley. If you enjoy family drama, this is worth picking up. If you just want to see a young Jim Carrey stretching his dramatic muscles, give it a rental. He's only in it so much, and his plotline is actually forgotten. At least you won't be disappointed by the rest of the film. This is one of the best TV movies I've ever seen, and so I'm giving it a recommended rating. I don't think anyone taking this advice will find it faulty...unlike the troubled Carter family.

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*The Reviewer's Bias section is an attempt to help readers use the review to its best effect. By knowing where the reviewer's biases lie on the film's subject matter, one can read the review with the right mindset.