PREDICTABLE YET GOOD-NATURED FLUFF, MOORE OR LESS.Byline: David Kronke TV Critic WHO CAN TURN the world on with her pinched grimace? Who can take a nothing teleflick and certainly make it all seem, uh, if not worthwhile, then maybe not a complete waste of time? Yes, it's Mary Tyler Moore This article is about the actress. For her 1970s television series, also known as "Mary Tyler Moore", see The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Mary Tyler Moore , and her new TV movie, ``Miss Lettie and Me,'' represents little more than predictable holiday inspirational piffle rendered somewhat agreeable by old pros - Moore is joined by Burt Reynolds in a role that asks him merely to smile charmingly on cue. Here, Moore plays Lettie Anderson, a bitter spinster who humorlessly hu·mor·less adj. 1. Lacking a sense of humor. 2. Said or done without humor: "She winked at me, but it was humorless; a wink of warning" Truman Capote. runs a small-town farm and is estranged es·trange tr.v. es·tranged, es·trang·ing, es·trang·es 1. To make hostile, unsympathetic, or indifferent; alienate. 2. To remove from an accustomed place or set of associations. from most of her family. When a sweet, 9-year-old grandniece grand·niece n. A daughter of one's nephew or niece. grandniece Noun same as great-niece Noun 1. she didn't even realize existed named Travis (Holliston Coleman) shows up at her door - Travis' mother is off chasing rainbows in Los Angeles - Lettie is less than thrilled. Their encounter places Moore on the opposing side of the classic exchange Mary Richards shared with Lou Grant at WJM WJM Western Journal of Medicine : ``You've got spunk,'' Lou told Mary (and Lettie could just as well be telling Travis); ``I hate spunk.'' But, of course, Lettie will soon melt before Travis' immense charms, particularly since Travis will soon reintroduce Lettie to her long-lost love Sam Madison (Reynolds), who returns to town a widower. Since all of this is telegraphed well in advance, there's not much to the film except awaiting the inevitable. Some viewers no doubt will delight in the film's programmatic storytelling. Others, aware of Moore's participation in more groundbreaking TV work (her show, as well as ``The Dick Van Dyke  This page is protected from moves until disputes have been resolved on the .The reason for its protection is listed on the protection policy page. Show''), will be forgiven for expecting more from this film. MISS LETTIE AND ME - Two stars What: Mary Tyler Moore stars as a bitter woman reconnected to her emotions by a 9-year-old grandniece. Where: TNT TNT: see trinitrotoluene. TNT in full trinitrotoluene Pale yellow, solid organic compound made by adding nitrate (−NO2) groups to toluene. . When: 8 and 10 tonight and midnight; also Wednesday, Saturday, Dec. 15 and 21. In a nutshell: Predictably emotional material, rendered by performers capable of doing much subtler work. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Mary Tyler Moore and Burt Reynolds star in TNT's ``Miss Lettie and Me.'' |
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