Remember when you had to go to the theater for a movie screening? I was extremely privileged to have the chance to take part in an online movie screening and simultaneous chat that also included a post-screening conversation with two of the actors from the movie. How cool is that?! Even though the system had some glitches, it was a very cool experience.

That said, I really wanted to like this movie more than I did. Set in the 1970’s, “MightyFine” is the story of Joe Fine (Chazz Palminteri) who moves his family–his Holocaust surviver wife Stella (Andie MacDowell), and two daughters Natalie (Jodelle Ferland) and Maddie (Rainey Qualley)–from Brooklyn to New Orleans. Joe adores his family, spends lots of money on them that they may or may not have and has some serious anger-management problems which result in some terrifying outbursts.

The film has powerful moments, to be sure, and touches on the very important issues of emotional abuse. Unfortunately for me, even though there was some powerful acting, particularly on the part of the actresses who play the daughters, it seemed to me that Andie MacDowell wasn’t a fabulous fit for her roll. Her accent appeared forced and her demeanor better suited to the lighter rolls in which I am accustomed to seeing her. Because of that, the film seemed more to be like a supremely powerful PSA than a full-fledged work of art.

That said, director writer and director Debbie Goldstein, who drew from her own experiences to create the movie, does have a very distinct voice and evokes some powerful emotions during the course of the hour or so that the movie lasts. This movie would be a great tool for group therapy sessions or to teach teenagers how to handle unsafe family situations because it can clearly be a great springboard for discussion. As an enjoyable movie-going experience, it’s more mighty okay than mighty fine.

*Disclaimer: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Mighty Fine and the distributor. I received access to an online showing of the film and a promotional item to thank me for participating*