Heartwarming is the word I would use to describe "The Trip to Bountiful." The best moment in this film happens at its close, when Carrie Watts (Cicely Tyson) and her son Ludie Watts (Blair Underwood) have a heart-to-heart in the yard of their family homestead. The old house, which is just barely standing after having been abandoned years ago, is in rural Bountiful. Carrie travels there by train, much to the angst of Ludie and his wife Jessie Mae Watts (Vanessa Williams), and without their knowing. Carrie has a heart condition and in her older age she should not be traveling alone. Once Ludie catches up with Carrie in Bountiful after giving both he and Jessie Mae the slip, they bask in the golden sun drenched nostalgia of their family's idyllic acreage. Carrie is girlish once again. She gazes up into the sky hoping to catch glimpses of red birds and scissortails. Ludie is worn. He broods over the fact that he never had children and couldn't provide the kind of life for his wife or mother that they deserve. But for Carrie, returning to her hometown of Bountiful is an experience that is priceless. Neither Ludie's self-loathing nor his wife's curtness is enough to spoil her trip.Williams is dismissively good. Tyson is genuine and sweet. Underwood proves once again just how underrated he is.

Cicely Tyson is superb here as Carrie Watts, an aging woman living with her son Ludie (Blair Underwood) and daughter-in-law Jessie Mae (Vanessa Williams), in Houston, Texas, in 1952. Carrie is quite unhappy there, as she's constantly bickering and arguing with the imperious Jessie Mae. Carrie yearns to return before she dies,, to her hometown of Bountiful, a small town along the Texas Gulf coast.One day, when Ludie and Jessie Mae are out of the house, Carrie packs a small bag and heads for the bus depot to try and get to Bountiful after a 20 year absence. Along the way, she'll befriend a sweet young woman (Keke Palmer) on the bus, and encounter various adventures in her journey. If you haven't seen any of the versions of this film or play, I won't write a spoiler as to whether Carrie will get to see Bountiful one last time.This movie played on the Lifetime channel and is now available on DVD, where I picked up a copy at my local library. As mentioned, there have been several versions of the story, all based on the late acclaimed screenwriter Horton Foote's play and adaptations to the screen or television. I remember seeing the 1985 movie, with Geraldine Page in the lead role, and liked it quite a lot.All in all, I thought this version, directed by Michael Wilson, was a well presented poignant drama, enhanced by excellent acting all around. It gives viewers a break from the steady stream of films which are filled with gratuitous sex and violence.

Cicely Tyson sure knows how to play elderly black ladies. We saw it in "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman," and now we see it again here.Under Horton Foote's excellent writing, Tyson, as Carrie Watts, wants to see her old home in Bountiful, Texas before death takes her. She runs away from her son, played methodically by Blair Underwood and daughter-in-law, Vanessa Williams, the latter turning in a stellar supporting performance as a nagging, irritable person, suspicious and filled with contempt for her aging husband's mother. Her sole purpose for keeping her around is for the mighty pension check that Tyson provides for the family.We see segregation down south at its peak in the film. Tyson is feisty as she sees life passing her by.

I didn't realize this was a remake. I have never seen the original but I enjoyed this movie. Cicely Tyson should win an award. Her portrayal of Mrs. Watts so reminded me of my grandmother in many ways. I am sure the feeling of "wanting to go home" is resonant in all of us to some degree. It makes her character very relatable. Whoever did the makeup for Vanessa Williams did a poor job. She looked "pasty".I would like to read the book after seeing the movie...I keep feeling like the story was missing something. I was also hoping for a different ending...but I won't spoil it for those who haven't seen it.