Is There Life Out There? (1994)

A housewife (Reba McEntire), who's married to a carpenter (Keith Carradine) works part time as a waitress to make ends meet. She sacrificed her college education to get married and have a family. But both she and her husband agree that the time is right to go back to school and pursue her dream. Based on the song Is There Life Out There? written by McEntire and directed by David Jones (84 CHARING CROSS ROAD). Typical "inspirational" 1990s TV movie fare but well done for what it is. While it's message is positive, it's a little too obvious and some subtlety would have been appreciated. Fortunately for the movie, Reba McEntire brings some real authenticity to the project while avoiding the actress-y performance that another actress might have brought to it (think Ellen Burstyn in ALICE DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE) and the screenplay doesn't condescend to its characters. With Donald Moffat and Mitchell Anderson.