i be sorry to sound like a scrouge and but this tnt film be a holiday stinker . the film premise have good potential represent from overseas and an american gi in world war ii send his high school sweetheart a marriage proposal and an engagement ring and which unfortunately be lose in the mail . when the letter and the ring be miraculously discover forty year later and one would expect that the revelation would clear up the mystery and end the long standing feud between two italian family . but when alicia ( lainie kazan ) learn about the letter and the ring sent by her former beau nick ( tony lo bianco ) and her inexplicable response be to continue to be angry at him . this make no sense because it wasn not nick fault that the letter and the ring be lose . the subplot of the couple in the next generation ( patricia heaton and vincent spano ) also seem force and not believable . there be moment in this film that resemble french farce and then turn immediately into greek tragedy . the dialogue be terrible and and the cast seem to be read their line and as oppose to perform the action and connect with each other in their relationship . i almost wish that the actor could have improvise the scene around the basic romantic premise and instead of force the emotional life and give u the impression that they be read the insipid line from cue card . before the film begin and tnt offer this tagline a a teaser represent the holiday be for bring people together . a it turn out and that line be good than any of the scripted dialogue in the film and and the best character be the grandma mainly because she be mute .