Deep End of the Ocean, The

Judging by its name and the trailers, you'd think "The Deep End of the Ocean" was just a big-budget version of one of those touchy-feely, made-for-television movies from the Lifetime cable network.

And you'd be right.

Despite the fact that it has a higher pedigree than your typical TV movie, including a more prestigious cast (which features Michelle Pfeiffer, Treat Williams and Whoopi Goldberg), this big-screen version of Jacquelyn Mitchard's beloved best-selling novel is surprisingly ineffective and emotionally muted.

Also, Pfeiffer's too-aware performance hurts, and some plotting that would work on the written page comes off as forced and horribly contrived here.

The story concerns every family's nightmare: the kidnapping of a child. Mother of three Beth Cappadora (Pfeiffer) loses track of her youngest son, Ben, while in a crowded hotel lobby.

Despite the assurances and efforts of a persistent police detective (Goldberg), Ben doesn't turn up, though. So weeks later, Beth and her husband, Pat (Williams), grudgingly decide to resume their lives without him.

However, nine years later, the resettled family gets its first good lead on his whereabouts. A neighborhood boy named Sam Karras (Ryan Merriman) shows up on their doorstep asking if he can mow their lawn. Though he seems not to recognize her, Beth believes Sam bears a striking resemblance to Ben.

With help from detectives, the family finds proof that he really is Ben and is reunited with him. But that doesn't sit too well with the boy, who has been taken from his loving adoptive father (John Kapelos). And Vincent (Jonathan Jackson), their oldest son, has been feeling neglected.

Despite the importance of the material, the whole thing is emotionally uninvolving. Also, Stephen Schiff's script is full of cliches and sappy philosophizing, none of which are particularly deep.

In fact, the only area the movie really excels at is in sentimentality. On whole the film features more hugs than a Robert Bly men's convention. And frankly, both Pfeiffer and Williams' characters are as dull as dishwater.

Actually, the film's most interesting characters are the supporting ones. Both Jackson (TV's "General Hospital") and Goldberg give lively performances, even though their roles are so underwritten.

"The Deep End of the Ocean" is rated PG-13 for profanity (including two uses of the PG-13 profanity), vulgar sex talk and some sports violence.