A Home at the End of the World

Charged by a passion for life, A Home at the End of the World is a major achievement.

How many movies these days leave you wanting more? The funny and heartfelt Home is a small treasure.

Cunningham's depth of feeling transformed the book's premise into something beyond sniggers or camp, and the best moments in the movie, which was directed by theater veteran Michael Mayer in his film debut and adapted by Cunningham, have a similar emotional charge.

The cast is good and the story affecting, though at times Michael Mayer's direction makes the production seem a little choked up over its own enlightenment. Sissy Spacek is memorable in a secondary role.

The film equivalent of the blind date described as "really nice." It's neither bad nor good, just sort of earnest and well-meaning.

A perfect example of how a top-flight cast can compensate for unimaginative filmmaking.

Well-meaning yawn-fest.