Mermaid

In this formulaic made-for-cable film, a four-year-old girl (Jodelle Ferland) traumatized by her father's death constantly refers to herself in the third person (“Desi wants to know when her father is coming back”) as a coping mechanism. Both her mother (Samantha Mathis) and grandmother (Ellen Burstyn) try to help the girl through her mourning, to no avail, and in attempt to reach her dad in heaven, Desi eventually launches a balloon with an attached note. Finding its way to the town of Mermaid, where a man and his family decide to respond, Desi's airborne plea ultimately results in an uplifting ending, thanks to the earthbound guardian angels. A ham-fisted heart warmer, this is optional for libraries desperate for “family” entertainment. (T. Rich)