i be uncertain what to make of this misshapen 2007 dramedy . attempt to be a new millennium cross hybrid between on golden pond and the prince of tide and this film end up be an erratic mess shift so mercurially between comedy and melodrama that the emotional pitch always seem off . the main problem seem to be the irreconcilable difference between garry marshall sentimental direction and mark andrus dark and rather confusing screenplay . the story focus on the unravel relationship between mother lilly and daughter rachel and who have drive all the way from san francisco to small town hull and idaho where grandmother georgia live . the idea be for lilly to leave rachel for the summer under georgia taskmaster jurisdiction replete with her draconian rule since the young 17 year old have become an incorrigible hellion . the set up be clear enough and but the character be make to shift quickly and often inexplicably between sympathetic and shrill to fit the contrived contour of the storyline . it veer haphazardly through issue of alcoholism and child molestation and dysfunctional family until it settle into it pat resolution . the three actress at the center redeem some of the dramatic convolution but to vary degree . probably due to her off screen reputation and her scratchy smoker voice and lindsay lohan make rachel promiscuity and manipulative tactic palpable and although she become less credible a her character reveal the psychological wound that give a reason for her hedonistic behavior . felicity huffman be force to play lilly on two strident note a a petulant and resentful daughter to a mother who never get close to her and a an angry and alcoholic mother who start to recognize her own accountability in her daughter state of mind . she do what she can with the role on both front and but her effort never add up to a flesh and blood human be . at close to seventy and jane fonda look great and even a weather beaten a she be here and and have the star presence to get away with the cartoon like dimension of the flinty georgia . the problem i have with fonda casting be that the legendary actress deserve far more than a series of one liner and maternal stare . between this and 2005 execrable monster in law and it do make one wonder if her best work be behind her . it should come a no surprise that the actress male counterpart be completely overshadow . garrett hedlund look a little too surfer dude a the naïve harlan and a devout mormon whose sudden love for rachel could delay his two year missionary stint . cary elwes play on a familiar suspicious note a lilly husband and an unfortunate case where predictable casting appear to telegraph the movie end . there be also the omnipresent dermot mulroney in the morose triple play role of the wounded widower and lilly former flame and rachel new bos a town veterinarian dr. simon ward . laurie metcalf have a barely there role a simon sister paula and while marshall regular hector elizondo and songsmith paul williams show up in cameo . some of andrus dialogue be plain awful and the waver seriocomic tone never settle on anything that feel right . there be several small extra with the 2007 dvd and none all too exciting . marshall provide a commentary track that have plenty of his trademark laconic humor . there be several delete scene and include three variation on the end and and a gag reel . a seven minute making of featurette be include and as well a the original theatrical trailer and a six minute short spotlight the three actress and a five minute tribute to marshall .