The Second Time Around

Stuart Margolin, who is probably best known for playing "Angel" Martin—the squirrely former cellmate of Jim Rockford (James Garner) on The Rockford Files—is the best reason to watch Leon Marr’s sweet but formulaic story of a romance that blossoms unexpectedly in a senior facility. Margolin plays Isaac Shapiro, a cranky widower who has a sharp tongue for everyone and everything, but he bonds with Katherine Mitchell (Linda Thorson), an elegant widow who checks into the home to convalesce while recovering from a hip injury that she suffered while at the opera. Although apparently polar opposites, the two are attracted, with Katherine coming to appreciate the soft heart that beats beneath Isaac’s crusty exterior, and Isaac recovering the joy in life that he lost when his wife died. The pair grow so close that they even plan to fulfill a dream that Katherine has long cherished—to travel to La Scala in Milan—and while a predictable obstacle arises, their mutual affection remains undimmed. Other characters surround the leads—Katherine’s workaholic daughter, a spunky granddaughter, and the array of lovable seniors at the facility—but it is Margolin and Thorson who give The Second Time Around (a song that Margolin sings after the closing credits) its charm—despite the story’s patent calculation. A strong optional purchase. (F. Swietek)