Changes

Plot synopsis:
Melanie Adams is a divorced mother who gave birth to twin girls Val and Jessica at age 19. Nowadays, she is a successful news correspondent working in New York City. For her latest story, she travels to Los Angeles to do a report on a sick, but optimistic girl. She immediately feels attracted to the girl's doctor, Peter Hallam. Peter is a widowed father of three children; 18-year-old Mark, 15-year-old Pam, and 8-year-old Matt. Their mother died of a pulmonary hypertension, refusing treatment. The family is still grieving, and especially Pam has difficulty dealing with the loss.
After a short-lived romance, Melanie and Peter part ways. They soon conclude that they can't live without each other and Melanie reluctantly gives up her job, thereby ruining her chances of becoming an anchor, to move with Val and Jessica, now 16, to Los Angeles. There, she takes a job as a co-host at a local news program and soon finds out the other co-host, Paul Stevenson, is not glad with her arrival, trying to sabotage her opportunities. Further on, she and Peter are married.
Trying to adjust to Californian life does not go without trouble. Val and Mark fall in love and she becomes pregnant. Fearing their parents' judgment, they decide to visit a downtown unexperienced doctor for an abortion. Val soon becomes very sick, which forces Mark to tell Melanie and Peter the truth about her abortion. While dealing with this information, Melanie is bothered by the great impact Peter's first wife still has. Pam and the house maid Mrs. Hahn treat her horribly, she is not allowed to take in her own furniture and the twins still have to use a spare room.
When Melanie finds out she is pregnant, Peter is delighted, but the children are disgusted. Realizing she already does not have enough time to spend time with Val and Jessica, she considers having an abortion. When Peter thinks she only wants an abortion because of her career, Melanie decides that she has had enough. She packs her stuff and runs away to San Francisco. The family soon realizes all the trouble they have caused Melanie. Peter convinces her to return and everyone apologizes. Pam decides to give Melanie a chance and Peter finally agrees that his first wife should not have this much impact. Mrs. Hahn is fired and replaced by Melanie's faithful maid from New York, Raquel.

Tags: melodrama

Review:
I really enjoyed this movie, I am a Danielle Steel fan now!. I thought that Cheryl Ladd was very good and the troubled little girl that played her stepdaughter did an excellent job. My only negative comment would be the male lead actor was a little week, but everyone else did a great job. Also, interesting to note, the little boy (about 8 or 9 years old) is now the teenage kid on 3rd rock from the Sun. This is a 3-4 Kleenex film.. Changes Makes for Good Soap Gossip ***. Cheryl Ladd and Michael Nouri provide for the right chemistry between themselves in this good film of Danielle Steele's book.A television news reporter has a meeting with an L.A. surgeon and the two fall passionately in love with each other. He is a widower and she is a divorcée. Both have children. The film does not fully concentrate on Nouri's 15 year old problematic daughter, who has taken her mother's death badly and deeply resents Ladd's entrance into the household.There are shades of the classic 1940 film REBECCA in this film. There is a picture of his dead wife hanging in the hallway and there is a maid who will remind you of Mrs. Danvers without the fireworks.The story does try to show too much with people of dedicated careers remarrying and the problems that this brings forward. Then, there are the children who not only can't get along but the doctor's son impregnates Ladd's daughter with near tragic results. Of course, we have the doctor's star patient dying which doesn't help matters either. It is the passion and commitment of Ladd and Nouri to this film that helps it succeed. Get those suds ready.. like in changes the channel. Find your remote and fast!!! Yuppy fantasy of unbelievable disgust. The closure is a MUST SEE. The woman has twins and she looks like she is ready for the prom. The best part is the over-testosterone charged 16 year old son of Dr. Granite knocking up the new brides' 16 year old tramp daughter. Ahhhh -incest the game the whole family can play. Set your timer and see how long you last before you are throwing barbs at your set. Daughter of the Doc has the typical reality check with her rude behavior. Check your wall paintings and hide your remote. This is the most unrealistic movie and is sickening.