Marvin's Room (1996) review

Bessie (Diane Keaton) has assumed the responsibility of taking care of her extremely sick father Marvin (Hume Cronyn) but when she's diagnosed with leukemia and needs help herself, she reaches out to her estranged sister Lee (Meryl Streep), who drives from Ohio to Florida with her sons Hank (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Charlie (Hal Scardino) to stay with them ... and, being blood relatives, possibly provide a bone marrow transplant for her.  Fundamentally, this is a Lifetime Channel-esque weepy woman's movie except with an A-list cast - even Robert De Niro has a role as Dr. Wally and Broadway legend Gwen Verdon plays Marvin's excitable sibling - that hinges on whether or not mentally disturbed Hank - who hates his mother, burned her house down and was committed to a mental health facility - is willing to be tested as a potential donor for his aunt.  It concludes with both Hank and Lee "learning" about familial obligations, the sisters bonding and Marvin still choking and groaning ... and the whole movie is smothered with a sappy score by Rachel Portman.