When the father is an alcoholic abuser and the mother can't stick up for herself, there's always hope that the son will get to a better home. "Like Dandelion Dust" explores that hope and the powers of wealth, love and family.

The strength of the film lies in its story-telling. The characters were all painted extremely realistically and even sympathetically, and every scene in the film advanced the plot. Written by Oscar-nominated writer Stephen J. Rivele and Michael Lachance, it certainly comes across as a film driven by the writing. But no matter how interesting the story was, they couldn't completely keep my attention. When we have gritty scenes, we get drab shots. The story really wasn't brought to life.

"Like Dandelion Dust" is less like a film and more like a novel. And unsurprisingly, it is a novel with the same name by Karen Kingsbury. As I have just learned, Kingsbury is known as a Christian novelist. Although religion is an element in this film, it's presented in a very subtle, questioning way. See "Like Dandelion Dust" because it's a novel, not because it's a Christian novel.

Wendy Porter (Mira Sorvino) calls the cops and sends her abusive drunk husband Rip (Barry Pepper) to prison. Seven years later, she's there to greet him upon his release. He has stopped drinking and is a changed man. She reveals to him that they have a son and she let him be adopted. The adoption paper was forged by somebody inside the prison and a judge annuls the adoption. Joey is ripped from his comfortable home and loving parents Jack (Cole Hauser) and Molly Campbell (Kate Levering).

The interesting thing here is that nobody is played as a pure villain. Everybody struggles in this movie. It's a losing proposition in any case. All four actors bring out some deep emotions. There are some real moments. The lack of one specific rooting interest does take a toll on the movie. This is a difficult but compelling watch.

After 7 years in prison Rip Porter (Pepper) is released and comes home to find out he has a son that was given up for adoption. He sets out to get him back. A father who never knew his son (Pepper) wants a chance to raise him. The only father the boy has known (Hauser) fights to keep him. Due to a flaw in the prison system the adoption of the boy turns out to be fraudulent and a fight begins. I have a feeling this kind of thing really happens. This is not as good as I want it to be. It was good, but TV movie good, like a really good Lifetime movie. This movie is very emotional and you feel for the little boy the entire time and wish for his ordeal to be over. This is yet another movie with a lot of potential but also falls flat. It is a good movie just, again, could have been better. When you watch make sure you give your lady Kleenex. I give it a B.

Would I watch again? - No