Honestly, the 2014 Lifetime flick A Day Late and a Dollar Short shouldn't have been this good. Usually, when you hear "Lifetime Original Movie," you expect a certain level of camp or maybe a low-budget thriller about a neighbor who is secretly a serial killer. But this one was different. It felt heavy. It felt real. Maybe that’s because it was based on the Terry McMillan novel, and if there is one thing McMillan knows how to do, it's capture the messy, loud, and sometimes exhausting dynamics of a Black family trying to keep it together while everything is actively falling apart.
Families are complicated. We all know that. But the Price family? They take "complicated" to a whole new level.
You’ve got Viola Price, the matriarch played by Whoopi Goldberg. She’s the glue. But even glue eventually loses its stickiness when it's old and dried out. When Viola finds out her health is failing—specifically, she’s dealing with a fatal asthma attack risk that basically puts a ticking clock on her life—she realizes she can’t leave her kids in the state they’re in. It's a classic setup, sure. But the execution? That’s where the magic is.
What Actually Happens in A Day Late and a Dollar Short?
The plot isn't just about a dying woman. It's about the wreckage she’s leaving behind. Her kids are a disaster. We’re talking about grown adults who still haven't figured out how to be people. You’ve got siblings who can’t stand each other, secret addictions, and a father, Cecil (played by Ving Rhames), who has one foot out the door.
Cecil isn't a villain, exactly. He’s just tired. He’s been unfaithful, he’s detached, and he’s sort of just waiting for the inevitable. Seeing Ving Rhames play a character that isn't just "the tough guy" is refreshing. He brings this quiet, weary dignity to Cecil that makes you understand why Viola stayed, even if you’re screaming at the screen for her to kick him out.
The movie deals with the ugly stuff. Teen pregnancy, drug use, incarceration—it’s all there. But it doesn't feel like a PSA. It feels like a Tuesday in a house where nobody is talking about the elephant in the room because the room is already crowded with five other elephants.
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The Casting Was a Stroke of Genius
Let’s talk about the cast because, frankly, this lineup was stacked for a TV movie. You don’t just get Whoopi Goldberg and Ving Rhames for any old script. Then you add Tasha Smith, Mekhi Phifer, Anika Noni Rose, and Kimberly Elise. That is a heavy-hitter roster.
- Whoopi Goldberg as Viola: She’s grumpy. She’s sharp-tongued. But you see the fear in her eyes when she realizes her time is up.
- Mekhi Phifer as Lewis: He’s the son struggling with his own demons. Phifer plays the "black sheep" role with so much vulnerability it’s hard to watch sometimes.
- Anika Noni Rose and Kimberly Elise: They play the sisters who represent the two sides of "having it together." One is the high-achiever with a secret, and the other is just trying to survive.
The chemistry between these actors is what makes the movie work. You believe they’ve been fighting since the 80s. You believe they know exactly which buttons to push to make each other explode.
Why Does This Movie Rank So High for Terry McMillan Fans?
Terry McMillan has this specific superpower. She writes about the Black middle class in a way that feels incredibly specific yet universal. Whether it’s Waiting to Exhale or How Stella Got Her Groove Back, she focuses on women finding their agency.
In A Day Late and a Dollar Short, the agency belongs to Viola, but it’s a desperate kind of agency. She’s trying to fix her family by force. She’s meddling. She’s lying. She’s manipulating her children into reconciling because she knows she won’t be around to referee their fights anymore.
It’s a bit of a toxic move, right? But it’s also incredibly human. We all want to leave things better than we found them. Viola just realizes she’s running out of breath—literally—to do it.
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Comparing the Book to the Film
If you’ve read the book, you know it’s a chunky read. It’s over 400 pages of internal monologues and shifting perspectives. Condensing that into an 88-minute movie is a tall order. Some things got cut. The movie leans harder into the drama, whereas the book has a bit more of that signature McMillan humor and slow-burn character development.
However, the film stays true to the "soul" of the story. It doesn't sugarcoat the ending. It doesn't pretend that one weekend of talking is going to erase decades of resentment. Life isn't like that. A Day Late and a Dollar Short acknowledges that sometimes, the best you can get is a start. A beginning of a conversation.
The Themes That Make People Keep Searching for This Film
Why are people still watching this a decade later? Why does it pop up on streaming services and get decent numbers?
It’s the relatability factor.
- The Burden of the Matriarch: In many families, specifically within the Black community, the mother is the pillar. When that pillar starts to crumble, the whole house shakes. This movie explores what happens when the "strong" person is finally allowed to be weak.
- Unspoken Resentment: Most of the Price family’s problems stem from things they didn't say in 1995. The movie shows how silence can be more destructive than screaming.
- Redemption is Work: It’s not a magic switch. The movie shows that forgiving your parents or your siblings is a choice you have to make every single day.
Behind the Scenes and Production Facts
The film was directed by Stephen Tolkin and produced by Sony Pictures Television. Interestingly, Whoopi Goldberg was also an executive producer on the project. This wasn't just a gig for her; it was a passion project. You can tell by the way she inhabits Viola. She isn't wearing much makeup. She looks tired. She looks like a woman who has spent her life worrying about other people's problems.
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The production took place in various locations, but the setting is meant to feel like a standard American suburb. It’s not flashy. The houses look lived-in. The kitchens have too much stuff on the counters. It adds to the "human" quality that the director was clearly aiming for.
How to Watch It Now
If you’re looking to catch A Day Late and a Dollar Short, it usually lives on the Lifetime Movie Club or can be found on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, or Apple TV for rent or purchase. It occasionally cycles through Hulu or Netflix depending on their licensing deals with A&E Networks.
It’s the kind of movie you watch on a rainy Sunday when you’re feeling a little reflective. Just a heads-up: have some tissues ready. Not because it’s a "tear-jerker" in the manipulative sense, but because the performances are so raw they’ll probably remind you of someone in your own family tree.
Final Takeaways for the Viewer
Watching this film isn't just about entertainment; it's a bit of a mirror. If you're going to dive into the Price family drama, here is how to get the most out of the experience:
- Watch the performances closely: Specifically the scenes between Whoopi Goldberg and Vian Rhames. The "silent" moments between them say more than the scripted dialogue.
- Pay attention to the pacing: Notice how the movie speeds up as Viola’s health declines. It mirrors her panic.
- Read the book after: If you like the movie, the novel provides a much deeper look into the kids' backstories—especially Lewis and Charlotte.
Next time you’re scrolling through a streaming library and you see that title, don't skip it. It’s a masterclass in ensemble acting and a rare TV movie that treats its audience like adults. It reminds us that we’re all usually a day late and a dollar short when it comes to saying what we really feel, but that doesn't mean we should stop trying to say it.
To truly appreciate the nuances of the Price family, look into the broader filmography of the cast. Many of these actors have worked together in various configurations over the years, creating a shorthand that translates into a more believable family dynamic on screen. Check out Tasha Smith’s work in the Why Did I Get Married? series for a similar vibe of high-stakes family drama, or revisit Waiting to Exhale to see where the Terry McMillan cinematic universe really took flight. If you're looking for more grounded, character-driven dramas, searching for other Lifetime "Prestige" titles from the mid-2010s often uncovers similar gems that escaped the traditional theater circuit.