Subject that in most TV movies would spotlight slighted mother takes a welcome twist in "Unwed Father." Nina Shengold's script shows a lot of sense, before what some viewers might consider a happy ending (for others, a cop-out).

Subject that in most TV movies would spotlight slighted mother takes a welcome twist in “Unwed Father.” Nina Shengold’s script shows a lot of sense, before what some viewers might consider a happy ending (for others, a cop-out).

Pic begins with Seattle teenagers Melanie (Nicholle Tom) and Gina (Ari Meyers) nightclubbing; Melanie is an aspiring artist who’s taken to drawing heartthrob rock singer Jason (Brian Austin Green). Jason and Melanie escape to what turns out to be a one-night stand. Within a few minutes’ screen time, Melanie is pregnant and Jason — confused but trying to do the right thing — offers to pay for an abortion.

Melanie decides to bear and keep the baby, but leaves her mother’s (Isabella Hofmann) house, dropping infant Shaun off with Jason and heading South.

Focus shifts to Jason, who, through a combination of good-heartedness and circumstance, decides to raise Shaun himself — though caring for the kid results in Jason’s losing his job at dad’s auto dealership and being tossed out of house shared by dad (a not-convincingly bewigged Alan Rachins) and stepmother (Fay Grant). He can’t keep subsequent jobs, either, and even his band throws him out when baby Shaun cries during rehearsal. Last is no big deal: Though several songs on Mark Mothersbaugh’s soundtrack are better than average, the one sung by Jason is a repetitive dud.

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Melanie, who has been studying art in a Venice (Calif.) studio, suddenly returns to Seattle to reclaim her child. At this point, audience might expect script to side with mother; it doesn’t. Still, by the end, Melanie and Jason don’t exactly kiss and make up, but film could have made a more powerful stand.

Supporting characters are well-acted under Michael Switzer’s direction, with Shengold’s script supplying sympathetic motivation on all sides.

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Unwed Father

(Sun. (12), 9-11 p.m., ABC)

  • Production: Filmed in Vancouver by Brian Austin Green Prods. in association with Dove Four Point Prods. Executive producers, Ron Ziskin, Michael Viner; producers, Ken Raskoff, Deborah Raffin; director, Michael Switzer; writer, Nina Shengold.
  • Crew: Camera, Rob Draper; editor, Mark Rosenbaum; production designer, Jo-ann Chorney; sound, Lars Ekstrom; music, Mark Mothersbaugh; casting, Ellen Meyer, Carol Kelsay.
  • Cast: Cast: Brian Austin Green, Nicholle Tom, Alan Rachins, Fay Grant, Isabella Hofmann, Ari Meyers, Cam Labine, Duane Keough, Doron Bell Jr., Sarah Strange, Angela Moore, Gillian Barber, Ron Chartier, Lucia Walters, Mike Roberds , Eric Keenleyside, Fulvio Cecere, Michelle Thrush, Mackenzie and Angus Lockhart, Michael and James Whibley, Ana Teresa Valle, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Michelle Hart, Sheelah Megill, Jim Smith, Mark Brandon, Colin Lawrence.

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