''When Andrew Came Home'', released in the UK as ''Taming Andrew'', is a 2000 American drama television film directed by Artie Mandelberg and starring Park Overall,

Seth Adkins Seth Elijah Adkins (born October 30, 1989) is an American actor. He made his debut as a child actor in the TV shows ''Small Talk'' and ''Sabrina, the Teenage Witch'' in 1996 and the films '' ...First Do No Harm'' and ''Titanic'' in 1997. He late ...

, Jason Beghe, and Evan Laszlo. It is based on a true story.

Plot

Ted and his girlfriend Patty kidnap Andrew, Ted's son by his ex-wife Gail. Gail informs the police, but no report is filed. Five years later, Ted returns Andrew to Gail, who has since remarried and has a new son. When Andrew shows signs of arrested development, Gail takes him to both a doctor and a psychiatrist. They want to send Andrew to a special residential school to help him catch up in his academics. Gail refuses to part with her son once again, so Andrew goes to state-run school instead. At school, a student named Carl Rudnick bullies Andrew, who responds by urinating on Carl. The principal calls both Gail and Carl's mother. Mrs. Rudnick calls Andrew a freak and says that he should not be in public school, even yelling at Andrew after he apologizes. After Carl and his mother leave, Gail has a discussion with the principal. He wants to hold Andrew back, but she refuses and takes him out of the school. At home, Andrew is nonverbal and incapable of trust. His bizarre behavior drives away Eddie, who moves in with his mother, taking the baby. Gail begins to teach Andrew at home. Slowly but surely, Andrew makes progress, and things get better for the family. Eddie and baby EJ move back into the house.

Social Services Social services are a range of public services intended to provide support and assistance towards particular groups, which commonly include the disadvantaged. They may be provided by individuals, private and independent organisations, or administe ...

tells Gail that if Andrew isn't on grade level by the time the summer ends, she will be forced to send him to the special school. Gail takes Andrew to her brother's farm so he can learn in a new atmosphere where he has no history. Andrew learns how to milk a cow and how to care for the animals very quickly, but still fails academically. Andrew overhears Gail tell her brother that if she had a choice to pick her son, it wouldn't have been Andrew. He runs out to the stables with Gail close behind. Gail apologizes and Andrew falls asleep in the stables. When he wakes up, Andrew tells his mother about the abuse he suffered at the hands of his father and Patty. He tells his mother that he is home and the two cry in each other's arms and sing their bedtime song together. Gail and Andrew return home to Eddie and EJ to build a healthier life together. Ted goes to prison for kidnapping and child abuse.

Cast and crew

Cast

* Park Overall – Gail * Jason Beghe – Eddie *

– Andrew * Lynne Deragon – Joanne * Craig Eldridge – Jack *

Shannon Lawson Shannon Lee Lawson (born July 12, 1973) is an American country music artist and songwriter. Lawson was originally signed to MCA Nashville Records, which released his debut album ''Chase the Sun'' in 2002. It produced two minor chart singles on ...

– Deena Drake * Carl Marotte – Ted * Patrick Chilvers – Officer Reston * Jeff Clarke – Mr. Kemper * Stan Coles – Dr. Burton * Eve Crawford – Janet Hilgarde * Jean Daigle – Officer Pearl * Shane Daly – Highway Cop *

Jake Goldsbie Jacob Benjamin "Jake" Goldsbie (born August 8, 1988) is a Canadian actor, who is best known for playing as Toby Isaacs in the CTV television series '' Degrassi: The Next Generation'' from 2001 until 2009. Biography Goldsbie graduated from Concor ...

– Carl Rudnick *

Bruce Gray Bruce Gray (September 7, 1936 – December 13, 2017) was a Canadian actor, known for multiple roles in films and television shows for over 5 decades. Early Years Gray was born in Puerto Rico and lived in Toronto after 1949. He graduated from ...

– Dr. Matthews * Katie Lai – Little Girl *

Bill Lake Bill Lake ( W.F. Lake) is a Canadian actor whose career began in Vancouver and who has appeared in many movies, television movies and series, stage plays and commercials. He has over 175 credits in a variety of productions since the 1970s. Caree ...

– Desk Sergeant * Evan Laszlo – Young Andrew * Joanne Reece – Officer Warner * K Roberts – Margaret Granger * Rhona Shekter – Mrs. Rudnick * Jared Wall – Kid in Playground *

Patricia Zentilli Patricia Zentilli (born November 27, 1975) is a Canadian performer who has worked in film, television and theatre across Canada. Early life and education Born in Kingston, Ontario but raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Patricia first performed in Gr ...

– Pattie * Hugo Hardinge – EJ * Oliver Hardinge – EJ

Awards

was nominated for a Young Artist Award (2001) 'Best Performance in a TV Movie (Drama) – Leading Young Actor'

References

External links

*{{IMDb title, 0257266 2000 crime drama films 2000 drama films 2000 films American crime drama films 2000s English-language films Films about child abduction in the United States Lifetime (TV network) films Crime films based on actual events 2000s American films