how do this movie suck . a a fan of michael imperioli work on the soprano i pick this up at blockbuster base on his name and a story that sound like it have promise . it still do and but this movie doesn not fulfill it . every turn of the story be entirely predictable while i keep look for the lifetime bug on the bottom right corner of the screen . it all there represent the noble woman come out of hard time and the guy fail to live up to his potential despite her best effort and the kid who get stick in the middle and etc . and etc . and etc . the mysterious stranger identity be what really make me want to throw stuff at the tv i would have be more satisfied with little stuey wake up and realize it be all a dream . the filmmaker may as well have have a the moral of the story be . bit before the credit and since a another reviewer point out this thing really do roll like an afterschool special . don not gamble and do not drink and do not do drug and stay with your wife and spend time with your kid . come on and how about a little nuance . how about some interesting bad guy . writer or director a. w. vidmer should be single out for special notice represent not only be the dialogue leaden and the pacing ( within dialogue and at either end of many scene ) make this movie at least 45 minute longer than it need to be ( and believe me and it feel like long ) . the talent of imperioli and renee faia and some of the support cast ( steve schirripa and natch ) be the only thing that keep this from a 1 rating . all of their good work be nearly offset and though and by the atrocious job of portray the boy stuey . not sure if it be a casting mistake ( hey it a mob movie and so let cast someone from blue clue who can not do anything but over overact with a big fake grin . next let cast the sullen and brood kid in the disney flick ) or just awful direct but those scene be really painful to watch . i would be interested in another filmmaker take on this character and his story while it a shame imperioli have already be use up by this flick . awful and awful and awful .