Family Pictures (2019 TV Movie) User Reviews

Very melodramatic

[cekadah · 6/10 · 5 July 2019]

But very watchable!

This Lifetime melodrama fits their usual program pattern with adequate acting and - at times - a captivating script. The plot centers around how two families, one on the east coast and one on the west coast, suddenly fine their lives in a most unexpected tangle facing the same situation.

The plot is very predictable and one scene you can figure out long before it happens. But still this made for TV movie holds it's own with an unexpected character twist.

Characters elevate this absorbing story

[Tucsonmom · 7/10 · 11 February 2020]

While there are plot holes you could drive a truck through -- e.g., Mark runs away with his passport in the night but never goes to the place with the stacks of cash until AFTER he's served time in prison? Wha?? -- the story and characters are endearing and well portrayed. What you end up with is a real family, not the two fake ones the movie begins with. I became very fond of these women and their kids, so my irritation with the loser husband wasn't as important.

excelent film!

[alysonlee-92234 · 7/10 · 7 September 2021]

Two women find they're married to an equivalent man but instead of coming together to undertake to form him pay as we see in a number of these movies, they struggle to assist one another through the next fallout. The ladies and families have very realistic issues that they need to face along side the very fact their lives are turned the wrong way up. Great acting and an excellent script makes this a really superior film.

Song

[xybkpxmn · 7/10 · 15 October 2021]

Who sang the song at the end of the movie? What is songs name please?

Good movie and enjoyed it lits, but I totally loved the end song, but couln't figured out the words to find out the singa name?

Above Average...

[rossmcfarlen · 6/10 · 1 June 2020]

The bigamist with two wives yarn is re-heated in this above average TV 'chick flick'.

Because it's based on a book (true story I believe) it's slightly less formulaic than the average TV movie - and despite some occasional moments of clunky dialogue this is an above-average TV feature film.

The three leads (and rest of cast) give superb performances; there's a 'don't miss' scene in the ladies restroom near the court room, where the two wives have a showdown, exchanging loaded insults from a place of betrayal, devastation, and mutual empathy.

The ending (showdown with errant hubby) has a super-duper surprise which I won't spoil - the ending is not sad is all I'll say!

Worth watching...including the striking photography and location shooting.

Average Lifetime Flick

[Foutainoflife · 6/10 · 6 July 2019]

One man, two families.

Not a bad watch. There is an expectation when it comes to watching Lifetime movies and this one lives up to their slightly better than average made for tv films. They tend to have decent acting and sets. The script work isn't always the best but it is good enough to hold your attention. It's not a blockbuster but it was a good pick for my night on the couch.

Not good, but not bad.

[tomfsloan · 5/10 · 16 June 2020]

Good potential plot, poor script. Although there were some good dialogue moments here and there. There was some nice cinematography too. But too many stupid parts. I don't know what movie the other reviewers saw who gave it a 10, but I must have missed that one.

Strong women picking up the pieces

[alishaebrahimnegad · 8/10 · 10 January 2020]

What a scumbag this dude was. He didn't care anything about his children. I was waiting for that moment to happen where he explains to the kids or has a heart to heart with them (even if they are college age) but it never happened. I will say, that's what's missing from this film.

However, I did enjoy the fact that these women did not mope around and fall into a huge pathetic mess. They each dealt with this situation in their own ways. They grieved and learned how to handle their business and instead of breaking down and becoming weak and hopeless, they took their lives into their own hands. I like how they came together and the friendship they built. It made me smile.

I also like how the kids didn't turn against each other. They embraced each other. Even though we may have seen this plot before, I think this was done a bit more eloquently. Loved the edginess of Elizabeth Rohms character especially.

Dumb

[svader · 2/10 · 13 August 2021]

Two of the dumbest wives with the dumbest children star in this nonsense posing as a movie.

Mark's Monkey Business is Exposed!

[lavatch · 8/10 · 28 December 2019]

Mark's ability to multi-task stood him in good stead for years with the two wives and two families he was concurrently maintaining on the East and West coasts. But unethical financial practices coupled with his polygamy and the chance meeting of his two daughters in college led to the exposing of Mark's monkey business.

"Family Pictures" is not so much a film about polygamy as it is the bonding of Mark's two wives, Margaret and Sylvie. The two women are a study in contrasts. In the socialite Margaret and the earthy Sylvie, Mark had the best of two worlds. The women were a virtual yin and yang of polar opposites.

When Mark disappears, Margaret and Sylvie meet for the first time. Their plan is not a revenge scheme, but strictly an attempt to survive after Mark left them destitute. It was especially the transformation of Margaret, who had to abandon her upscale lifestyle that was well portrayed: Margaret the patrician becomes Maggie the waitress.

The two daughters, Eve and Grace, also developed a comaraderie and a support system for one another. They had an instant connection when they first met as "prudes" at a party at NYU. When Eve goes on a drinking binge, Grace saves the life of her half-sister.

But the film truly belongs to Maggie and Sylvie. Their characters were well-written and well-performed by the two actresses. When the family secrets were revealed, they approached their vulnerable state with tenacity and relied on their support from one another to rid their lives of a man whose influence could have could have destroyed them.

What did I just watch?

[toncincin · 3/10 · 1 January 2020]

Started out OK. Then ... it totally fell apart. Was it a movie about a guy with two families? Was it a story about a spoiled rich wife? Was it about a low income wife? A bulimic girl? About a guy who embezzles? A bratty college girl? A waitress having sex? I couldn't figure it all out. Too many plot lines going on in one movie. Not impressed. AND Elizabeth Rohm - what the hell happened to you? These grade C TV movies? And I don care for the woman from One Day at a Time reboot. I miss the Matt Passmore from The Glades...

Superior Lifetime Movie - Worth Watching

[deby-keller-601-791913 · 10/10 · 30 June 2019]

Two women find they're married to the same man but rather than coming together to try to make him pay as we see in some of these movies, they try to help each other through the subsequent fallout. The women and families have very realistic issues that they have to face along with the fact their lives have been turned upside down. Great acting and a great script makes this a very superior film.

Loved it

[fjg-90677 · 10/10 · 15 July 2019]

Surprisingly good...not a typical lifetime movie. Really enjoyed it

Fantastic lifetime movie

[rs-89619 · 10/10 · 30 June 2019]

Wow, what a real treat watching Elisabeth Rohm in action on TV screen once again. Her partner in crime was amazing as well.. Hell hath no fury as two women were conned by the same man. They got their payback in spades..

Done well even if it's been done before

[phd_travel · 8/10 · 20 July 2019]

This theme of a man juggling two families has been done before but here the actresses are likeable Elizabeth Rohm especially and watchable and the directing and tone are sharp enough to make it watchable.

When his LA step daughter goes to NYC for a college tour and meets a new friend, Guess what she's his East Coast Daughter. It's only 10 years so it's possible. The dialog is funny and quite touching.

Great Lifetime Movie Owed to the Actors

[abenq · 8/10 · 2 July 2019]

This was a very good "Lifetime" feature mainly due to Elizabeth Rohm and Justina Muchado, they made it great because they are both great actors!

Excellent Drama!

[rebekahrox · 8/10 · 3 July 2019]

Wow! What a plot! A Bigamist's two families on opposite coasts discover each others existence through a crazy coincidence. One of them lives a high-society country-club life. The other family is a basically middle-class. The wife is hispanic and pleasingly plump. They couldn't be more different.

The best thing about this movie was the two wives characters. One of them starts out as a strong leader, while her counterpart just wants to bury her head in the sand by zoning out on prescription meds. She also behaves badly towards her daughter and her priorities are first her lifestyle and reputation and second her family. Midway through the movie it all changes with the strong one losing it, and the rich guy pulling it together and getting a job in a diner to make ends meet and handling the business of pursuing justice from her now fugitive bankrupt husband.

I won't say more except that it was a ton of fun!

Excellent Drama!

[rebekahrox · 8/10 · 6 July 2019]

Wow! What a plot! A Bigamist's two families on opposite coasts discover each others existence through a crazy coincidence. One of them lives a high-society country-club life. The other family is a basically middle-class. The wife is hispanic and pleasingly plump. They couldn't be more different.

The best thing about this movie was the two wives characters. One of them starts out as a strong leader, while her counterpart just wants to bury her head in the sand by zoning out on prescription meds. She also behaves badly towards her daughter and her priorities are first her lifestyle and reputation and second her family. Midway through the movie it all changes with the strong one losing it, and the rich witch pulling it together and getting a job in a diner to make ends meet and handling the business of pursuing justice from her now fugitive bankrupt husband.

I won't say more except that it was a ton of fun!

darn good

[holograf · 10/10 · 1 July 2019]

Well how 'bout that, i'm the first reviewer! well i liked this movie a lot. it got into the story very quickly and moved along fast. it's ye' old 'guy has two families' plot, one on each coast. but it's well done. he gets busted early in the movie, so it's mostly about how the wives deal with the aftermath, picking up their lives while juggling their teen kids issues, etc. the plot kept moving along, no boring parts. great acting by the two ladies. the character played by elizabeth rohm was quite funny, both actresses were great. i think any wine drinkin' socially stressed desperate wife or husband will enjoy this movie. as hallmark type movies go, this is among the best i have seen, so i gave it a 10.

Excellent Lifetime Movie!

[andreatodman · 8/10 · 9 August 2019]

Really good Lifetime movie. The story unfolds quickly characters don't make ridiculous unrealistic choices. Great story.

Good

[monicaspurpledoor · 8/10 · 26 March 2021]

Not bad. Enjoyable and watchable. Could use a few tweaks here and there but I like how the two wives ended up becoming best friends.

One of the rare LMN movies!

[haroot_azarian · 10/10 · 26 June 2021]

This was a wonderful movie, how to completely different women living on opposite coasts find out they are married to the same man! The movie takes us through their journey that is filled with problems. But the bond they establish between them helps them to get up dust themselves off and start living life enjoying every moment! I am an Elizabeth Rohm fan anyway! Highly recommended!