The Spitfire Grill

Elliott's released from prison into a waitressing job at Burstyn's cafe, under the watchful eyes of the entire town. This would-be inspirational, Capra-esque melodrama wears its heart on its sleeve. It's not a bad heart, just very soft. James Horner supplies a bathetic scorer, the Maine locations (actually Vermont) are made much of, and the wistful vision of small town America is too cute for words. On the plus side, newcomer Elliott stands up to heavily accented performances from Burstyn and Harden.