Generation Gap

Generation Gap, an original Hallmark Channel film, is a movie for all generations. It is a touching family story about a troubled teen (played by teen heart-throb Alex Black) who is forced to live with his grandfather (Ed Asner). His grandfather is a no nonsense WWII Vet who is not going to take his excuses and puts him to work. Dylan fights it at first, but as time goes by, this teen becomes a man, and the grandfather gets to know his grandson. What we get is a movie that will make you laugh and cry, and leaves you feeling like calling a family member to tell them you love them! This is a film you won't want to miss, and should watch it with as many generations as possible! Alex Black (Ned's Declassified) gives a brilliant performance, and injects a youthful exuberance to an otherwise veteran, but aging cast. Wonderful performances were delivered by all, including Ed Asner (7 time Emmy winner), Rue McClanahan and Ralph Waite.

This kind of movie has been done many times, but it's still interesting to watch. A lot of well-known older actors make it interesting. The teen is rebellious, but not extreme, or this wouldn't have worked. He wouldn't have changed. The ending was incomplete, however, leaving a lot of unanswered questions.

This Hallmark Channel TV movie has a decent script, about a New York teenager who is sent to stay with his grandfather to straighten out and does so. Nowadays the movie theaters are full of big spectacles which seem to be all about production values and little about people or story, so efforts like this are welcome, especially as they allow us to see actors who might not be young and beautiful any more, but who can turn in performances ten times as interesting as current movie leads.

It is a pleasure to watch the older actors -- Ed Asner, Rue McClanahan, Ralph Waite and others handle their roles simply and interestingly. However, Alex Black, as the juvenile lead, is a little too nice, his transformation is a little too easy and he spends too much time smiling to put much depth into this effort. Danielle Savre, as the ingénue, though, is excellent.

We get to meet ed Asner's character when his grandson from New York is sent to spend the Summer with him because he needs to have some discipline in his life. Bart is a regular guy in a small town, and everyone knows him and his V. F. W. buddies know him best and respect him as a fellow soldier who retired with honor to continue his life in his home town. Bart teaches his grandson about how to be a man to take responsibility, to be respectful of others. When Ed Asner's funeral is taking place his daughter is given the folded flag by a Sergent Major of the Marine Corps. Ed Asner was a colonel in his Marine days, so military etiquette requires that someone of similar rank or higher present the flag to the family. It should have been a Colonel or General that did this.