Highly Overrated But Still Good

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

You know sometimes when your browsing through DVDS, and your extremely eager to buy something, but you don't know what. Then you come across a film where you've seen the actors before, but you've never even heard of the film? Well, that's how I staggered across the film Walking Across Egypt. I purchase about two new DVDS a week and as soon as I laid eyes on the cover I read the description I decided to buy it. Despite only watching this film once, I believe this is a film you could watch with anyone and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. For those of you thinking of watching it I really do recommend you should. All of the performances are fantastic and I was especially impressed with Jonathan Taylor Thomas who plays a mischievous kid with a big heart.

Arthur Allan Seidelman has worked extensively on television. This film, adapted from a good novel by Clyde Edgerton, with a screen play by Paul Tomasy, looks as though made expressly for the small screen as it has that certain look of well intentioned movies that usually turn up on Lifetime, or are made into a Hallmark special feature.The main attraction for watching the movie is the casting put together for the project. Ellen Burstyn, a wonderful actress is Mattie Rigsbee, an older woman living by herself in a small community in the South. This well intentioned lady decides, after hearing her pastor read some bible passages, that she will bring food to one boy in a juvenile detention camp in her area. That's how she gets to meet Wesley, a boy that knows his way around the system.The relationship between Mattie and the young man, is in sharp contrast with the one Mattie and her own adult children have. Mattie's son lives by himself; her daughter wants to send her mother to a 'retirement home', instead of helping her. That aspect of the novel doesn't come across too well in the film, which concentrates in Mattie and Wesley.Ellen Bursyn's Mattie is the best thing in the film. Since she has been so isolated from the rest of the community, she is not wise enough to realize the possible danger in welcoming Wesley to stay with her when he turns up at her door. It's obvious that her kindness transforms Wesley, who for the first time is shown genuine affection.Jonathan Taylor Thomas makes a good appearance in the film. Edward Herrman, Dana Ivey, Herve Pernell, Gwen Verdon, Judge Reinhold, Gail O'Grady and Mark Hamill are seen in supportive roles."Walking Across Egypt" is a heart warming tale about filling the generation gap between Mattie and Wesley with love.

"Walking Across Egypt" is a decent, watchable movie--but there's nothing groundbreaking here. Burstyn is very believable as a conservative, yet unshakeable elderly woman who takes in a young, misunderstood juvenile escapee. The storyline and characters are completely predictable from the outset. But at the same time, they're engaging enough to make the movie worth sitting through. And, yes, that really is Mark Hamill--you might not recognize him.

I'd never heard of this movie, but I like Ellen Burstyn very much and rented the disk because she was the star. A couple of hours later I had tears on my cheeks and the feeling that I'd seen a film made in earlier, simpler times. That's a compliment. It's the story of a sweet elderly lady (Burstyn) whose faith and trust reform a juvenile delinquent (the fine teenage actor Jonathan Taylor Thomas). OK, it's a corny plot and it's been done a thousand times. And maybe not every question is answered here. But there are many surprises -- small story twists that are clever, reasonable and satisfying. Countless details show expert writing and film-making. Besides the two stars, the cast includes some solid names: Harve Presnell, Gwen Verdon, Edward Herrmann, Judge Reinhold and Mark Hamill. The title comes from the old-fashioned expression, "I could no more do [something impossible] than I could walk across Egypt." Incredibly, the rural, moss-draped locations were all found "in and around the city of Orlando." Florida, that is. Don't look for the travel-agency Orlando. Just do yourself a favor. Relax, forget the frantic concepts that some recent movie s have made us think are essential, and give yourself to "Walking Across Egypt." A handsome film, a superb cast, a heart-warming story. We're not often handed so many pleasures in a single picture.