Invisible Child (1999)

Annie (Rita Wilson) is the perfect wife and loving mother of two children, who believes she has a third child named Maggie… only Maggie does not exist! Her husband Tom (Victor Garber), hires Gillian (Tushka Bergen) to become their nanny. The whole family has played along with Annie’s delusion for years, hoping it would pass. Gillian is asked to do the same. Months later, Gillian decides to try and help Annie and does some research on her own. Unintentionally, she alerts authorities who launch an investigation. Will she be responsible for having Annie institutionalized, and taken from her family... a family that Gillian has grown to love? Drama. 93 Minutes.

disturbing, but well done

I disagree with the writers who bashed Ms. Wilson. As a former psychiatric nurse specialist, I have seen numerous people with delusions more bizarre than the one depicted, and a good number of the families do everything they can to avoid institutionalization of the loved one. Rita Wilson's performance is haunting, yet endearing. Victor Garber, is, as always, superb. Mae Whitman is phenomenal, she is a very bright and believable actress. All in all, an incredible story. And, as for the death, at the end, delusional people often have an innate sense that the things they believe are true, are somehow not "quite" real, and will often develope a "way out," without realizing that they are. July 30, 2008

The mind is powerful

Invisible Child This is an amazing story going into the mind and heart and soul of a family dealing with powerful emotions that are definitely real to them. A lot of times we forget we can not feel what they feel but need to appreciate them and go where they are at, until they can work through the personal side. Just because you can not see something does not mean it is not real, if only in the mind! May 29, 2008

Sunk by the ship Rita

The premise of this movie is a typical one -- a dysfunctional family with its systemic ways to dealing with its problems (in this case, the mother's mental illness) has its systems upset when a newcomer creates conflict. In this case, the way an entire family colludes to help a mother preserve her delusions of a third child is upended when a well-meaning outsider in the form of a nanny enters the home. In all honesty, the premise is no more ridiculous than any other Lifetime-style movie given that the writers seeem to be running out of diseases of the week and have to search harder and wider for different distresses.

The movie is saved by the excellent performances of Victor Garber as the enabling husband, as Mae Whitman as the oldest child, and Tushka Bergen as the nanny. What ultimately makes one unable to ignore the sheer ridiculousness of the plot is the almost-laughably poor performance of the lead, Rita Wilson. Ms. Wilson is utterly unconvincing in her portrayal of delusions. Ms. Bergen conveys in her portrayal of the nanny --PRETENDING to believe -- far better how to act in a delusion than the mother who actually does believe in her invisible child. In the hands of a more nuanced and skillful actress, this movie could have been raised from schlock to touching and poignant. November 12, 2007

Us or THEM?

This is a wonderful film that is much underated. It's a bit soapy at places but it speaks of a major undertow in our current society.

In the film, an otherwise wonderful and loving mother, belives that she has a third child in her family that really doesn't exist. She divides her time between what she belives are her three children. This is all well and good and the family is well adjusted because the whole family, including her husband, love her and allow her this delision.

But then, due to the innocent motives of the family's nanny who visits with the government agency of Child Protection, the government steps in and decides that the children need to be taken away from this delisional mother.

I won't give away the ending. It's very clever. However, I wish to point out that, at least in my opinion, there is a thinly masked social meaning to this film. What is most important? The family unit that is loving and funtional or the government's defination of what a "good" family is? Granted, this family is living with a delisional mother, but doing just fine - thank you. But that's not good enough for the government. They charge the father with "child abuse." A very damaging charge the seems to be more and more easily handed out in our current times.

If you care about families or have one of your own, you will love this adventure despite just a very few moments of "soapinest." It's worth it. December 27, 2006

Rididulous but Hilarious

If you're bored and in need of a hearty laugh by all means, watch Invisible Child where a mother of two creates a third child (Maggie) for some obscure reason. The movie is devoted to watching this nutcase interact with thin air with the aid of her other daughter and husband. With no set up or backstory, you're immediately thrust into this family who has been dealing with mom's issue for about five years already. This movie is totally illogical and I suppose would be touching if it wasn't so absurd. There are SO many entertaining parts of this movie however. Anytime that the mother is out in public with her "child" is a riot. I don't know what would possess anyone to be a part of this film. I had to give it two stars just because it's so hilarious. November 18, 2006

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