User Reviews

I saw most of this TV movie late one night, didn't even know the title till just now. This film always seems to come back to me now and then and it'll movie will make you think twice the next time you step over a homeless person or walk fast past them on the street.

The harrowing story of how it can happen to a "normal" family - much like the one you might live next door to. Step by step, event by event you can see how the homeless you hear about in statistics in the news actually come to be. I really felt the growing panic in the characters, especially the father (Jeff Daniels) who is desparately trying to gather resources to keep his faily housed and fed. Really a sad but important movie to see. I'm glad it got made and could provoke thought in at least this viewer.

Powerful and compelling drama which has not become 'dated' upon the affects of homelessness shown through the tribulations of a family experiencing such a plight. Outstanding performances from all the main actors including the children. Anyone who doubts that society must provide decent and acceptable housing for its' citizens (regardless of means) ought to view this picture to understand the importance of having proper accomodation for all, otherwise the social cost including crime will soar. A further significant "message" coming out of this film was and is an attempt to show the 'reality' of poverty; whoever said that money cannot buy happiness needs to see this picture. Of course no matter how good a movie it is impossible to fully portray the true extent of misery caused by poverty, but at least this one makes a serious attempt to do so. And congratulations to the film makers for a suitably realistic and honourable ending,rather than a Hollywood style 'happy ever after'. A sound 8 out of 10.

this is such a grim, heartbreaking, at times brutal movie, but i am very happy to have seen it for the fact it is so thought-provoking. this was made in the late 80s, and i remember seeing it with my grandmother in the early 1990s and wishing i had taped it. about ten years later i saw that it was in cable.

the coopers do not have a luxurious home, but the movie starts out with them living at least comfortable. christine lahti and jeff daniels (Michael) have paying jobs, and their children David (about 10) and Tina (about 5) are relatively happy as well. after a night out at a relatives house, they return to see their apartment has burned down. they stay for awhile with their respective relatives, but Michael has a strained relationship with his brother and it forces them out of the house. Thus begins their journey from living in a car, to a shelter, to public housing and then out on the street. Michael is forced to leave the family to look for work, and son David deals with his overwhelming feelings of embarrassment, anger and bitterness.

There is no happy ending in this movie. One person said it goes from bad to worse, and that's not a lie. The Coopers however, have enough love to go around, despite their hardships. But the performances by the actors playing Coopers are incredible. Christine Lahti is uniformly phenomenal as a mother whose decisions are driven by her desperation to keep her children warm and fed, and Jeff Daniels plays Michaels downward spiral so well. Kyndra Joy Casper was also terrific as Tina

But the standout performance, for me, was Lantz Landry who played David. I was blown away by him. His boyish enthusiasm and energy in the beginning slowly diminishes until he's somewhat of a shadow of his former self, sickly looking, disillusioned and embittered. He turns to drug dealing to raise money and harbors anger and resentment toward his father for leaving them until the very end. There is a particular scene between Lahti and Landry that is painful to watch, an outburst that occurs after they are forced to leave the public housing and Lahti blames him out of anger. He is a fabulous child actor (though since this was made in the eighties I'm sure he's well into his twenties now) and I wish he had appeared in more.

I would give this ten stars. This film evoked both thoughts and emotions from me. There's no beating around the bush in this movie, no sugar coating. It was flat out wonderful and the acting in this film was amazing.

Very powerful realistic movie this could happen to you or your family. I wonder if the family ever managed to get a new home and rebuild their lives. I hope so its a fantastic movie one of the best movies ive seen heart breaking at the same time. Jeff Daniels is fab actor

Everyone should see this. Every person that judges the homeless should watch this and see how easy it can be to go from living a normal life, to living on the streets.

I remember seeing this with my mom when I was little and we would sit and watch Sunday and Tuesday night made-for-TV movies. A fond memory of my childhood. This one has always stuck with me because a few years later, we would end up homeless. Also, because it was a special time with my mom as a child who passed away. I have always thought about this movie and glad I was able to find it on Paramount. A sober reality for many.

I found this movie on Amazon Prime Video and saw Jeff Daniels was in it. I thought I'd give it a chance. It's called Homeless on Amazon Prime Video. As someone who was homeless twice as a child and on public assistance (welfare) my entire childhood, this movie is very realistic and heartbreaking. Most people are a pay check away from homelessness. It can happen to anyone! You don't need an addiction or bad habits. Give spare change to those holding signs and donate to charities and organizations who help the homeless.

This 1989 TV movie featuring an early career performance by Jeff Daniels before he hit it big with Arachnophobia, Speed, Dumb and Dumber and others and Christine Lahti with solid direction by actress Lee Grant and a small performance from pre-Misery Kathy Bates is surprisingly good for a made for TV movie.

Of course it helps it has some recognizable talent in front of and behind the camera to elevate it from your average television film.

The acting is just fine as to be expected and the dialogue and scenarios are effective relatable and handled delicately and intelligently for the most part in the first half.

However by the second half the movie ran out of gas for me a little bit. It seems like there were lots of chances for the characters to do logical situations with the obstacles facing them.

I wanted to smack some common sense into them a little bit towards the end so that weakened the film a tad for me but there is no denying this still a very effective well made drama, and proof that not all made for TV movies have to be low quality compared to big screen Hollywood flicks.

This is definitely one of the best television films I have ever seen hands down despite some flaws.

But it doesn't need to be perfect for me to recommend it. There is still plenty of good stuff to see here and discover if you missed it way back when in 89.

Thank goodness for Tubi for keeping hidden gems like this available to stream for free and appreciate them many years later.

Overall excellent drama that I recommend you stream without hesitation.