Waiting for the Light

Shirley MacLaine is a hoot playing dippy aunt to her young niece and nephew, all of whom delight in playing tricks on people...but with the country on edge in the early 1960s, one of their pranks on a nasty neighbor is misconstrued as a sign from Heaven! Minor but pleasant confection, the kind of piffle that defies criticism (it's like a happy house of cards--one little knock and it collapses). Teri Garr (always nice to have around) isn't given much to do, but MacLaine seems to be having a high time. The final moments are frenetic and should've been smoother, but on the whole the picture is quite colorful and enjoyable. **1/2 from ****

With two of my favorites, Shirley MacLaine and Teri Garr, this film couldn't go wrong. Serendipity plays a large part in the transformation of the character's lives, especially the eccentric neighbor who terrifies Garr's kids. MacLaine keeps getting better and better with juicy roles like this one. It's light-hearted comedy, perfect for viewing at the end of the day with friends or family.

Shirley MacLaine in another tailor-made role. As the aunt to a single mom in a 1962 working-class Chicago neighborhood, the veteran character actress gets another work-out as a gutsy woman who won't let any set-backs defeat her spirit of success. The children, a pre-teen boy and girl, are drawn to their spirited Aunt Zoe, although the many magic tricks and practical jokes learned from her, and applied at all the wrong opportunities eventually get them expelled from school.

The plot is cleverly enveloped in the Cuban Missile Crisis, with all of the social implications. Men building bomb shelters, people watching news programs on what seemed to be the only TV set, at a diner, and a general mist of uneasiness and fear in the air. When a "harmless" miracle is blown out of proportions, the climactic conclusion nonetheless makes the viewer feel good. Yes, Virginia, the sun will come up tomorrow! Clearly a small-budget production, this is still a sweet little film, filled with the magic that Sunday Matinees were made of. With a few choice "Oldies" thrown into an effective Sound Track, the whole family is sure to enjoy this one.****

This film - a nostalgic look back at early 1960s America - initially has a lot going for it. The early scenes with single mother Kay Harris (Terri Garr) struggling with the pressures of troublemaking kids and an irascible aunt who leads the children into more mischief are amusing, fast-paced and generally engaging.

But once the plot switches to Kay inherting a rundown diner the film slowly goes downhill. The miracle narrative that takes over the film is predictable and uninteresting with an inept finale.

More significantly, too many new characters are introduced in the second half so that the film not only feels chaotic and messy, but that the central family we followed with interest in the first half feels like an afterthought. Especially so with Garr's character who becomes a supporting role in a film where she's supposedly the central character.

Overall, the film isn't too bad but should've been better than the afternoon TV timewaster that it is. Particularly so for the underrated Garr who after 15 years of impressive work saw her film career ebb away due to flops like this.

This is a really fun movie & its family friendly. It is a light hearted look at America in the early 60s & in one scene 3 houses in a row have the men digging bomb shelters. The soundtrack is great & if it doesn't make you smile, nothing will!