I don't know why this one was so trashed by the critics. It's not a masterpiece but hardly as bad as indicated by the drubbing it got. It has what I thought what the best movie scene of its year, where Tom Selleck is talking to the little girl about his departure. He talks to her so intelligently, just the way a smart person would talk to a smart child. After that, I was willing to forgive an awful lot (and admittedly, there's an awful lot to forgive

Three Men And A Little Lady picks up where its predecessor Three Men And A Baby left off with bachelors Tom Selleck, Ted Danson, and Steve Guttenberg all setting up house with Nancy Travis and their daughter Robin Weisman who's now about seven. Travis back in her swinging youth was involved with all these guys and all stepped up to the plate. They've created a most unusual household.

But Travis hasn't heard marriage from any of them and indeed why would she in this situation. So she's accepting the proposal of director Christopher Cazenove and is ready to move across the pond and do her acting career in the United Kingdom.

That doesn't sit well with any of the guys, particularly the one that Travis was really waiting for a proposal from. Time to bust this situation up since Cazenove hasn't been truthful about a few things especially where the little lady is concerned.

This film more than any other gives credence to Hillary Clinton's quoted African maxim that it takes a village to raise a child. Any more in that household you'd have a small village. If you liked the first film and the characters created you'll like this one.

The man hungry Fiona Shaw, headmistress of a most strict boarding school in England has the best supporting performance. What she does to Tom Selleck almost makes it to rape.

Three Men And A Little Lady should be pleasant viewing fare for fans of the three stars and Nancy Travis.

Mary is now 5. She and her mother Sylvia Bennington (Nancy Travis) have ingrained themselves into the lives of Peter Mitchell (Tom Selleck),Michael Kellam (Steve Guttenberg),and Jack Holden (Ted Danson). The five of them have become an unique family. Baby daddy Jack continues to be irresponsible while Peter is falling for Sylvia. Then she announces that she's marrying Edward Hargreave and moving to England.

The comedy is not that funny. It feels especially sitcomy. It isn't fresh anymore. There is a compelling romance rising out of the ashes. The guys remain likable. Sylvia has a central role this time around along with little girl Mary. It's a secondary sequel and not quite that good.