Kidskycom It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

Clarissa Mora The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

Yash Wade Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Edwin The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

dukeakasmudge I wasn't all that interested in watching Run Stranger, Run -AKA- Happy Mother's Day, Love George at 1st.Knowing Ron Howard was in it, kinda had my curiosity but after seeing Darren McGavin was the director, I definitely had to watch it now.I was really expecting to at least like the movie but after watching it, I don't know what to think.The movie was weird.It starts out (kinda) normal, Ron Howard comes to town, looking for his birth mother in hopes of finding out who his father is.The cast of characters are weird.Everybody has something about them.The movie's vibe is weird & it gets weirder.Towards the end, it turns into a horror flick.Run Stranger, Run -AKA- Happy Mother's Day, Love George was a big, weird mess.I wouldn't recommend anybody watch it anytime soon.It's a movie that if you watch it, you watch it but if you don't then you don't.You're not missing anything at all.Damn, Darren McGavin I was hoping for something way better

kevin olzak Darren McGavin enjoyed a lengthy career as one of Hollywood's most likable and dependable performers, best remembered as intrepid reporter Carl Kolchak in the film and TV series of THE NIGHT STALKER. It may be a surprise to learn that he, like Larry Hagman, directed a single horror film in his heyday, and never did a second (in Hagman's case it was "Son of Blob"). 1973's "Happy Mother's Day, Love George" was of course a torturous title, soon reissued as "Run Stranger Run," under which it was seen far more often. McGavin proves to have a fine visual sense, and allows his powerhouse cast to bring their characters to vivid life, from a script by Robert Clouse, who had previously written McGavin's 1972 Steven Spielberg telefeature "Something Evil," soon to graduate to director himself with Bruce Lee's final film "Enter the Dragon." Fifth billed Ron Howard, after "American Graffiti" but before HAPPY DAYS (his name now shortened from 'Ronny'), actually stars as drifter Johnny Hanson, journeying from Los Angeles to the New England town of Malone Bay (filming in Nova Scotia) to discover the truth about his parents, who gave him up for adoption right after he was born. Cloris Leachman's café owner, Ronda Carlson, recognizes the young man as her son the moment he walks in, driving her cook, Eddie Malone (Bobby Darin), into fits of jealousy. From there, Johnny locates the home of Ronda's estranged sister, Cara Perry (Patricia Neal), and especially Cara's nubile teenage daughter Celia (played by Neal's real life daughter Tessa Dahl), who admits to her cousin her instant attraction and unbearable loneliness. The film moves at a leisurely pace, McGavin happy to indulge his cast in maintaining intrigue despite the more familiar elements. As things escalate into full on horror during the final half hour, only the final encounter between Johnny and the killer rings false, the director seemingly losing interest in a clear denouement. Still, the atmosphere, the banjo-led folksy music score, and the believable performances make up for any shortcomings in the script. Simon Oakland, soon to join McGavin in the KOLCHAK series, makes his final screen appearance as the sheriff, who seems to know everything about everyone, even the identity of Johnny's father, while Bobby Darin would pass away only months after the picture's sparse release. The director's comely wife, Kathie Browne, shows up briefly to become a murder victim, while Gale Garnett, nearly 10 years after her big hit "We'll Sing in the Sunshine," also comes to a bad end by pushing the desperate culprit into a corner (she had another horror film still ahead, 1980's "The Children"). The greatest impression is left by the lovely Tessa Dahl, only 16 at the time, making it a shame that she forsook her mother's profession of acting to follow that of her father, author Roald Dahl (her daughter is gorgeous model Sophie Dahl). After 30 years of performing in Hollywood, Darren McGavin had what it took to be a director of great promise, but like so many before him left audiences wondering what kind of impact he might have had behind the camera had this initial film found proper distribution, admittedly a tough film to market. Lastly, he does make an uncredited appearance on screen, unrecognizable wearing a mustache in photographs depicting the title character of George Perry, Cara's long dead husband.

Lee Eisenberg When I picked up the box and saw who the cast is (and who the director is), "Happy Mother's Day, Love George" (also called "Run Stranger Run") looked very interesting. It turned out to be a pretty hokey movie, with Ron Howard as a teenager given up for adoption looking for his father in a New England town. It was definitely interesting to see Howard play a role very unlike any of the ones for which he's known, and it's not a bad movie or anything, just kind of corny. Also starring are Patricia Neal's daughter Tessa (whom she had with Roald Dahl), and Simon Oakland (the psychiatrist at the end of "Psycho"). Yeah, who would've predicted the "Dream Lover" singer appearing in a thriller? Then again, who would've predicted his ex wife Sandra Dee starring in an adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's book "The Dunwich Horror"?

udar55 I took in this early 70s TV thriller last night. A young man (Ron Howard) arrives in a seaside town searching for his real mother and solve the mystery of who his father is. What he doesn't expect is to uncover a series of bizarre disappearances and murders. While the film is a bit slow (the first murder doesn't occur until over an hour in), RUN STRANGER RUN is worth a look. The script by Robert Clouse jumps from initially mysterious to predictable in the end but does carry that PLAY MISTY FOR ME (1971) psycho-sexual vibe. What makes RUN interesting is it is the only film directed by actor Darren McGavin. He has a good eye and the last half hour, which includes a great scene in an empty house, is pretty tense. And McGavin fills the film with great supporting performances from Cloris Leachman, Patrica Neal, Bobby Darin and NIGHT STALKER co-star Simon Oakland. Ron Howard gives a wonderful performance as the impish kid but the best work is done by Tessa Dahl, daughter of Roald Dahl, as the psycho killer teen.