A Piece of Eden

John Hancock must be the best filmmaker working in LaPorte County, Ind.

In an era when cynicism so often passes for insight, a movie as decent, well-intentioned and good-hearted as A Piece of Eden can't easily be dismissed.

All the full-blown wackiness turns a rather sweet movie into one that's decidedly overripe.

It's a film in which nothing is at stake, that's safe and sentimental to the core.

Has the enthusiasm and naivete of a first feature.

Its tone is as disjointed as if this were a first effort.

Mushy and musty itself, A Piece of Eden takes an eternity...this time to cheat and shortcut its way to lesser Frank Capra moments without the gritty touch of, say, a Garry Marshall.