Gena Rowlands and Lacey Chabert in "What If God Were the Sun?"
courtesy of the Lifetime Channel
"What If God Were the Sun?" (Lifetime)

Lacey Chabert and Gena Rowlands star in the Lifetime original movie "What If God Were the Sun," which is based on a story by John Edward. The two actresses are in top form but the story itself is a little convoluted and murky. It is fairly entertaining but not as much as you expect from a Chabert/Rowlands film.

Jamie Spagnoletti (Chabert) is a nurse in the ER but her actions have been a little bizarre lately. She is trying to plan a wedding to her boyfriend Jeff (Sam Trammell) but she keeps putting off the details. Jeff is also on to her to reconcile with her estranged father. Then one day her father is brought into the ER and dies before her eyes. This pushes her over the edge and she becomes a hazard to her patients in the ER.

She is reassigned to a long term care unit where she meets Melissa Eisenbloom (Rowlands), who is dying of lung cancer. Melissa takes a sudden liking to Jamie and when she is put on a leave of absence for even further unacceptable behavior Melissa hires her as a private nurse/companion.

The movie studies Jamie's evolution in her life and in her faith. At one point she does not believe in an afterlife of any kind but eventually when unexplained things happen and "ghosts" appear to her she changes her mind. It is of course Melissa who causes the biggest breakthrough in her faith and in her behavior.

Chabert has certainly come a long way since her days as "Claudia" on "Party of Five." She is all grown up now and quite a beauty. She is also a very good actress, but then she always was. Rowlands never met a role she couldn't make better just by taking the part. She is regal and accomplished and a delight to watch.

The story by John Edward, host of the "Crossing Over" series, is a little simplistic at times. Still there is entertainment in seeing Jamie move towards a firm faith and a calmness in her life. Plus watching these two wonderful actresses interact makes for an entertaining evening.

"What If God Were the Sun?" premieres on Lifetime, Monday, May 14 at 9PM.
 

 

 

 

 

©2007 Jackie K. Cooper

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