Just in Time is a 1997 American family comedy-drama film directed by Shawn Levy and written by Eric Tuchman. It stars Mark Moses as widower Michael Bedford, who hires Faith Zacarelli (Rebecca Chambers) to care for his young daughter Lily (Brittany Alyse Smith) after the death of his wife.
Plot Michael Bedford is a widower whose wife was killed in a car accident six months earlier. He copes with her death by immersing himself in his work, leaving his seven-year-old daughter Lily lonely and struggling with her own grief. After Lily drives away a succession of nannies, Michael hires Faith Zacarelli to care for her.
Lily initially resists Faith, but the two gradually form a close bond. Faith encourages Lily to talk about her mother and recognizes that the child needs more attention from Michael rather than simply another caretaker. Her presence begins to draw Michael back into Lily's life, and Michael and Faith also become increasingly attracted to one another.
At the same time, Michael's coworker Brenda Hyatt pursues him romantically, complicating his developing feelings for Faith. Although Michael initally responds to Brenda's attention, he gradually realizes that Faith has helped both him and Lily begin to recover from their loss. When Faith leaves, Michael is forced to reconsider his priorities and recognizes that he wants her to remain part of their lives. He reconciles with Faith, and the two begin a relationship.
Cast The cast includes: Mark Moses as Michael Bedford Rebecca Chambers as Faith Zacarelli Jane Sibbett as Brenda Hyatt Steven Eckholdt as Jake Bedford Brittany Alyse Smith as Lily Bedford Micole Mercurio as Dotty Zacarelli Scott Ditty as Richie Rosalind Soulam as Roberta Frank Gerrish as Big Frank Dennis Saylor as Jerry Micaela Nelligan as Mrs. Thaler Jeff Olson as Hal Pipkin Shawn Levy as Photographer
Production Just in Time was produced by David Blangsted, Lori Petersen and Don Schain. Matthew Williams served as cinematographer, Blangsted and Petersen edited the film, and Jay Gruska composed the score. Parts of the film were shot in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Release By August 1996, Just in Time had been completed by Leucadia Films and was reported by the Deseret News as ready for release. The film was released in the United States in 1997 and was later distributed on home video by Feature Films for Families.
Reception In a review published by Filmdienst, the film was described as a predictable but polished piece of family entertainment, although the reviewer felt that it lost momentum toward the end. Tv Today was more critical, awarding the film one out of three points and criticizing Lily's precocious characterization, while noting that without that element, the comedy could have been reasonably entertaining.
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