The sap flows freely in "Life as a House," the kind of gooey, inspirational drama that reigned supreme back in the day of the disease-of-the-week TV movie. With their sights set higher than Lifetime Television, director Irwin Winkler and Oscar-nominated screenwriter Mark Andrus ("As Good as It Gets") go for "Terms of Endearment" hankie-wringing gold here, but their property is built on a wobbly foundation. Attack of the Clones, the picture provides considerable star-watching bang for the festival buck.

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