Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 7, 1994 TAG: 9412070086
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TOM JICHA FORT LAUDERDALE SUN-SENTINEL
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``Lily in Winter'' isn't marked by the hard-line orgy of psychological terror and gratuitous violence that mark USA's one-note movie catalog, but the underlying tone is the customary one. A potential lynching of the lovable female lead is suggested as close to inevitable in the period piece set in 1957. (The show airs Thursday at 8 p.m.)
Natalie Cole, who was effective in a guest role on ``I'll Fly Away,'' makes her starring debut as Lily Covington, a conscientious housekeeper for a well-to-do New York show business couple with a 9-year-old son. Cole doesn't exude the comfort level of more polished performers, but this is all that is missing from her performance. She compensates with a warm, winning personality that lends credibility to her characterization.
Cole is supported by an ensemble of names and faces, many of whom should be familiar to TV junkies but whose careers have seen better days.
``Lily'' is likely to provide a step forward only for Cole, who has the excuse that it is a learning experience.
Brian Bonsall, who was the youngest child on ``Family Ties,'' is Michael Towler, the lad for whom Lily serves as a surrogate mother. His parents, played by ``L.A. Law'' dropout Cecil Hoffman and Dwier Brown, are each too engrossed in their careers to have more than a fleeting moment here and there for Michael, even with the holidays approaching.
Michael has resorted to utilizing a map in his room with color-coded pins to keep track of where on the globe his parents are on any given day. As a result, for all practical purposes, Lily serves as his mother and father. Their bond is unflagging and affectionate.
Lily's loyalty to the Towlers is tested when her ne'er-do-well brother Booker comes to her in a panic. His latest pipe dream has sapped all his funds and he is in over his head to loan sharks. Booker, played by Monte Russell, either comes up with the cash or goes down for the count. Desperate, he asks Lily to do something out of character. She is reluctant but he is her brother and alternatives are not apparent.
Like everything else in which Booker becomes involved, the scheme misfires. Lily, however, jumps to an erroneous conclusion that the outcome is much more serious than it is. Panic-stricken, she goes on the lam to her family's home in rural Alabama. Unbeknownst to her, Michael has decided that where she goes, he goes.
The two receive a mixed greeting upon their arrival. Lily's mother Mazie - a huge comedown for Marla Gibbs - is elated to see her daughter again but wary of what brought her home unexpectedly, especially with a 9-year-old white boy at her side. Lily has a good story but mothers are not easily fooled.
Lily's sister Ada welcomes her cheerily. However, it quickly becomes apparent that Ada resents the fact that Lily escaped to the big city.
Back in the Big Apple, Michael's parents, who have finally noticed he is missing, have no idea things are going so well. They assume Lily has kidnapped their son. The FBI is called in and a nationwide woman-and-boy hunt is launched.
Booker reappears on the scene with the reassuring news that if she gets caught, they will probably all be hung. Meanwhile, a new heartache, the revelation of a long buried family secret, complicates matters for Lily.
Hardly any of this is believable, even for a few moments, but plausibility has never been a distinguishing trait of holiday movies. At least, no one gets cut up, beat down or murdered. This is about as close as USA movies come to expressing a hope for peace on Earth, good will toward men.
``Lily in Winter'' airs again Sunday and Dec. 17.
by CNB