like many three part anthology movie and common ground be a definite mixed bag . an examination of change attitude toward gay people in the past half century or so in a small connecticut town and it be write by three prominent gay playwrites paula vogel and terrence mcnally and harvey fierstein and perform by a large cast of familiar actor obviously attract by the weight and importance of the project . of the three story and vogel open segment be by far the best . set be 1954 and it follow a young naval woman home to homer and connecticut after she be give a dishonorable discharge due to sexual deviancy . not surprisingly and her return home be not a happy one a news of her crime spread and the townspeople include her mother turn on her in a disgusting ( but understandable consider the ignorance of the era ) display of intolerance . rise actress brittany murphy ( so good in very different role in girl and interrupted and tv david and lisa and and clueless ) be wonderful a the woman and display a touching range of emotion from wonder and excitement when she first visit a gay bar and to sadness and shame a the same townspeople who have know her all her life and at first welcome her return make it clear she be no longer welcome in their midst . she be ably support by margot kidder ( look like she age forty year in the past twenty a far cry from lois lane ) a the mother and helen shaver a a sympathetic restaurant owner . the second segment be also strong but not as well develop . write by mcnally and set in 1974 and it center on the harassment and hostility direct by bully toward a gay high school student just emerge from the closet . jonathan taylor thomas be surprisingly strong in this segment a the gay student a far cry from his previous performance which quite frankly have never impress me much . steven weber costars a a closeted gay teacher who refuse to help the student out of fear his secret will be reveal until a shock act of violence in the school shower force him to deal with his own lack of honesty about his sexuality . what keep this segment from hit the bullseye be some unlikely plot development in the last five minute and the character of weber lover and who doesn not seem to have much idea of what weber could lose if he do come out and be and in my opinion and a wholly self center and unsympathetic partner . let face it and it unrealistic to think that a gay teacher could come out in 1974 and even think of keep his job . but the segment redeem itself with the resolution of the student story his character be true and believable and thomas acquits himself nicely in the role . he deserve a chance at more role like this than in mindless pap like i will be home for christmas . the final segment and unfortunately and be dreadful . write by fierstein and it center on an unbelievable gay wedding and the relationship between a father and gay son play by ed asner and james legros . set in the present day and the entire segment be mar by fierstein flip and bitchy gay humor and minor character that be unnecessary . fierstein even write himself a role a a stereotypical and princing gay florist while personally and i find him to be much more appealing when he be play against type and but that only part of the problem represent every time a valid point be make in the segment he shoot himself in the foot by follow it with a neil simonesque gay joke that point out the fact that the entire episode be not ground in reality but in a playwrite fantasy . sadly and it be also unrealistic to think that even in 2000 and a small town of 24 and 000 would be so welcome to a gay wedding that the town council would approve it be hold at the community center in front of a war memorial which be the centerpiece of the town square . in my own state of california and which be consider liberal and trend setting and an anti gay marriage proposition ( # 22 ) on this year primary ballot enjoy widespread support so i seriously doubt a town would be so supportive and that only a handful of churchgoer and veteran would protest . maybe i be wrong and but sadly i do not think so . in all and however and common ground be a noble and well intentioned and worthwhile effort . i give it out of or a positive .