The Great Mom Swap
Encyclopedia
The Great Mom Swap is a 1995 film released direct-to-video
by Hallmark Entertainment.
), a local deli girl, always seems to be at odds with the cheerleading captain, Karen Ridgeway (Hilary Tuck). One day their pranks on each other go too far and the school has to close as a result. The girls have to perform community service. A juvenile counselor tells them that the girls should switch lives for a while to experience the other girl's life. The counselor also notices that both mothers act the same way toward each other.
Reluctantly, the girls and their families agree. Karen's family is quite affluent, but both parents work and are gone quite a bit. As a result, Karen, when she was home had to take care of Karen's little sister, Tiffany (Kelsey Mulrooney), and now Terri must. During the switch, Terri learns that Karen never stands up for herself to her mom (Shelley Fabares
) who grew up in the neighborhood with Terri's mom, and is now a social climber. While at Karen's, Terri and Karen's brother David (Andrew Kavovit) discover they like each other, especially after Karen gives Terri a "makeover."
At Terri's, Karen is living with her mother (Valerie Harper
), a widow, and grandfather Papa Tognetti (Sid Caesar
). Terri's is a blue-collar family that runs an Italian deli. Karen's friends make fun of Terri and now are making fun of Karen, who discovers that her "friends" are very superficial. Her "best friend" Nicole Henderson (Marnette Patterson
) starts snubbing her and even tries to steal her boyfriend Chad Elkins (Hunter Garner), which causes problems for the couple. She also discovers that Terri's mom is much more "hands on" than her own mother and doesn't like things to change. She also can be a bit controlling.
As a result of the switch, Millie (Karen's mom) and Grace (Terri's mom) gain perspective and restore their friendship. They apparently had a falling out when they were teens. Grandpa moves to a retirement village. Terri and Karen discover they like themselves and each other. Millie decides her family is more important than her clubs and Grace quits trying to hide in the past and embrace life again. Everyone benefits from the Mom Swap, especially Terri and David, who go to Prom together, and Karen and Chad, Prom Queen and King. Karen and Terri end up as best friends.
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
by Hallmark Entertainment.
Plot
Terri Venessi (Mary Kate SchellhardtMary Kate Schellhardt
Mary Kate Schellhardt is an American actress. She is known for her role as Ellen in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Nadine in Free Willy 2, and Jim and Marilyn Lovell's eldest daughter Barbara in Apollo 13. Other films in which she has appeared include Mr. Blue Sky, The Great Mom Swap and 9-9-09...
), a local deli girl, always seems to be at odds with the cheerleading captain, Karen Ridgeway (Hilary Tuck). One day their pranks on each other go too far and the school has to close as a result. The girls have to perform community service. A juvenile counselor tells them that the girls should switch lives for a while to experience the other girl's life. The counselor also notices that both mothers act the same way toward each other.
Reluctantly, the girls and their families agree. Karen's family is quite affluent, but both parents work and are gone quite a bit. As a result, Karen, when she was home had to take care of Karen's little sister, Tiffany (Kelsey Mulrooney), and now Terri must. During the switch, Terri learns that Karen never stands up for herself to her mom (Shelley Fabares
Shelley Fabares
Michele Ann Marie "Shelley" Fabares is an American actress and singer. Fabares is known for her roles as Donna Reed's oldest child, Mary Stone, on The Donna Reed Show , and as Craig T. Nelson's love interest and eventual wife, Christine Armstrong Fox, on the sitcom Coach. She also was Elvis...
) who grew up in the neighborhood with Terri's mom, and is now a social climber. While at Karen's, Terri and Karen's brother David (Andrew Kavovit) discover they like each other, especially after Karen gives Terri a "makeover."
At Terri's, Karen is living with her mother (Valerie Harper
Valerie Harper
Valerie Harper is an American actress, known for her role as Rhoda Morgenstern on the 1970s television show The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and for her starring roles on the sitcoms Rhoda and Valerie.-Early life and career:Harper was born at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, Rockland County,...
), a widow, and grandfather Papa Tognetti (Sid Caesar
Sid Caesar
Isaac Sidney "Sid" Caesar is an Emmy award winning American comic actor and writer known as the leading man on the 1950s television series Your Show of Shows and Caesar's Hour, and to younger generations as Coach Calhoun in Grease and Grease 2.- Early life :Caesar was born in Yonkers, New York,...
). Terri's is a blue-collar family that runs an Italian deli. Karen's friends make fun of Terri and now are making fun of Karen, who discovers that her "friends" are very superficial. Her "best friend" Nicole Henderson (Marnette Patterson
Marnette Patterson
Marnette Patterson is an American actress who is perhaps best known for her role as Christy Jenkins on Charmed.-Career:Patterson portrayed Nicole Farrell on the NBC series Something So Right....
) starts snubbing her and even tries to steal her boyfriend Chad Elkins (Hunter Garner), which causes problems for the couple. She also discovers that Terri's mom is much more "hands on" than her own mother and doesn't like things to change. She also can be a bit controlling.
As a result of the switch, Millie (Karen's mom) and Grace (Terri's mom) gain perspective and restore their friendship. They apparently had a falling out when they were teens. Grandpa moves to a retirement village. Terri and Karen discover they like themselves and each other. Millie decides her family is more important than her clubs and Grace quits trying to hide in the past and embrace life again. Everyone benefits from the Mom Swap, especially Terri and David, who go to Prom together, and Karen and Chad, Prom Queen and King. Karen and Terri end up as best friends.