| Director: | Paul Wendkos |
| Starring: | Olympia Dukakis John Stamos Kelly Rowan Della Reese Estelle Getty |
| Music: | Don Davis |
| Cinematography: | Chuck Arnold |
| Network: | CBS |
| Runtime: | 120 minutes |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
A Match Made in Heaven is a 1997 television film inspired by actual events. It is about a dying widow who plays matchmaker to her 32-year-old unmarried son and sets him up with a nurse that she meets. The film stars Olympia Dukakis, John Stamos and Kelly Rowan.
Thomas "Tom" Rosner is a successful divorce lawyer and happens to be a good catch. However, his unmarried state is the greatest sorrow of his elderly mother Helen, who is in remission from cancer.
As Helen visits the hospital for a check-up, she encounters her doctor's new nurse Jane Cronin, a single woman who is hesitant to meet someone new after getting out of a five-year relationship. She is taken by Jane's beauty, compassion, intelligence and sense of humor, and immediately decides that she is the one for her son. Helen plays matchmaker between the two of them, much to the chagrin of her longtime caretaker Katie Beale.
Tom and Jane decide to humor Helen by going out on a date, but Tom incorrectly tells his mother he believes that Jane likes him. In turn, she tells her that their date was "the worst social experience since the dawn of man." Undeterred, Helen manages to convince Jane to go out with Tom again. The second date goes successfully, but this time, Tom is afraid to commit because he feels he isn't the kind of man Jane's looking for.
Helen succeeds in convincing her son see Jane again by employing jealousy, but just as things are going well between the couple, she learns that her cancer is back. This fuels her determination to finally get Tom to settle down with Jane, which frustrates Katie into telling her that she is meddling so much with her son's life that she is not allowing him to move on and live it on his own.
Meanwhile, a torn-apart Tom goes out drinking and a woman there drags him onto the dance floor, then convinces him to take her home, although he's reluctant to do so. He is soon telling her he is not interested. Jane, who has been leaving him concerned messages all day since hearing the news, unexpectedly turns up. Encountering the girl, she flees Tom immediately.
Tom becomes withdrawn and depressed, not only because of Jane, but also because of his mother's illness. Meanwhile, as Helen's condition worsens, she begins to realize that she is not going to be around forever to look after her son. Jane initially distances herself from the Rosners, but as Helen's condition worsens, she offers her support to the elderlly woman. However, she refuses to hear Tom out.
At Helen's funeral, Tom tries to talk to Jane, but her companion soon whisks her away. A short time later, the depressed man crosses the street without looking and gets knocked down. Katie calls Jane, who hurries to see him. Once she realises Tom is OK, she leaves. He hurries after her, apologizing profusely and finally declaring his love.
At their wedding, Helen gleefully watches from afar.
The film has been described as an "(i)nspirational drama, inspired by actual events".[1] The film holds a 78% approval rate on Rotten Tomatoes.[2]