Our House

Name: Our House
Genre: Thanksgiving, Wedding Anniversary, Big City, Enemies to Lovers, Complete Strangers
Released: 2006-01-01
Duration: 1 h 30 min
Rating: 6.9
Cast: Doris Roberts, Judy Reyes, Ellen Geer, Jeffrey Marcus, Jim Cody Williams

6.9/10 · 453 ratings20061h 30mThanksgivingWeirdness 4/10Bingo card

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The premise

A lonely socialite (Roberts) opens up her mansion to homeless people after a young woman (Reyes) saves her life.

Themes:Found family Social justice for the homeless Redemption and second chances The true meaning of home Legacy and mortality

How unusual is it?

Middle of the road, with a twist — an enemies-to-lovers arc keeps it from being totally by-the-book.

Who’s in it

Lead

Doris Roberts

as Ruth

Lead

Judy Reyes

as Billy

Alongside them

Show all 10 cast

Behind the camera

Show

Directed by

Mark Griffiths

Written by

Michael Lach

Wait, what?

The quirks and curveballs that make this one a little weirder than your average Hallmark. No spoilers, promise.

The movie begins with a graphic suicide attempt by the elderly protagonist, which is extremely rare for Hallmark.
A main character is named 'Milkbone' after dog treats.
The protagonist dies of terminal cancer at the end of the film.
The 'villain' of the movie is a neighbor who is angry about a homeless man urinating in his bushes.

Every trope, all in one place

Here’s everything this one has going on, from the setting to the way it wraps up. Tap any of the 32 to find more movies that do the same thing.

How it all plays out

Already seen it, or just can’t wait? Open this up for the whole story, ending included.

Full story (spoilers)

The film opens with Ruth Galloway marking her 50th wedding anniversary alone, as her daughter Geena is too consumed by her high-powered legal career to visit. Overwhelmed by grief and the fear of becoming a burden, Ruth attempts to take her own life by swallowing a bottle of pills. Billy, a homeless woman living in the nearby park, sees Ruth through the window and breaks in to save her. When the police arrive, they mistakenly arrest Billy for assault, but Ruth refuses to press charges. Seeking out her savior, Ruth finds Billy and her sickly friend Rose living on the streets. Ruth eventually convinces them to move into her large, empty mansion. As Ruth integrates Billy and Rose into her home, she begins inviting other members of the homeless community, including a mechanic nicknamed 'Milkbone' and a man named Max. This creates a vibrant but controversial 'boarding house' in an upscale neighborhood. Ruth's daughter Geena is horrified, believing her mother has lost her mind or is being exploited. The neighbors, led by the litigious Gil Greenberg, file a lawsuit to evict the residents based on residential covenants. Amidst this conflict, a romance blossoms between Billy and Larry, a pro-bono lawyer helping Ruth with the case. The tension peaks when Geena discovers Ruth has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on medical care and rehab for her new friends. However, the narrative shifts when Ruth reveals the truth about her suicide attempt to Geena, forcing a reconciliation. During the court proceedings, Ruth collapses and is diagnosed with terminal cancer that has metastasized. In her final weeks, Geena uses her legal expertise to save the house by making the residents part-owners of the deed, rendering the neighbors' lawsuit void. Ruth passes away peacefully, and the film concludes with the residents and Geena maintaining 'Our House' as a permanent sanctuary, fulfilling Ruth's legacy of unconditional love.

Beat by beat

Opening
Ruth Galloway attempts suicide on her 50th anniversary and is saved by Billy, a homeless woman.
Inciting Incident
Ruth invites Billy and the sickly Rose to live in her mansion, eventually expanding the invitation to other homeless friends.
Midpoint
Geena confronts Ruth about the 'vagrants' in the house, leading Ruth to confess her suicide attempt and her desire to finally 'live'.
Rising Action
The neighbors file a class-action lawsuit to evict the residents for violating residential zoning laws.
Climax
Ruth collapses in court and learns her cancer has returned and is terminal.
Resolution
Geena outmaneuvers the neighbors by making the residents part-owners of the property before Ruth passes away.

Did you know?

A few things that make this one stand out once you stack it up against every other Hallmark movie.

Among everything Hallmark put out in 2006, this is the highest rated on the site — 6.9 out of 10.

32 tropes in one movie

We counted 32 distinct Hallmark tropes packed into this one — a genuine greatest-hits reel.

The backstory

Our House is a 2006 television movie made for Hallmark Channel that premiered in May 2006. It stars Doris Roberts as a lonely socialite who takes a group of homeless people into her home. Judy Reyes also stars as a homeless woman. The television film was directed by Mark Griffiths.

From Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

How it stacks up

Where this one’s rating lands against every other rated Hallmark movie.

Higher-rated than 88% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.

Where this one fits

The corners of the catalog Our House belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.

BINGOA shared errand turns into bondingRecycled scraps used instead of new paperA happy endingA shared meal around a crowded tableA heart-to-heart on a porch or benchSomeone cooks or bakes on screenThe leads laugh at the same momentA pro bono lawyer takes the caseOld flames reuniteWealthy neighbors threaten to sueA snowball fight, sledding or skatingA handwritten note or letter★A charming local cafe or dinerA warm hug that lingersA toast at a celebrationA family reconcilesA homeless stranger saves her lifeA cup of cocoa, coffee or ciderA grown daughter calls the residents vagrantsA big event everyone is preparing forA cosy interior full of warm lightingA wise elder dispenses adviceThe lead works as a retiredA character is hiding a secret

Hallmark Bingo

Your Our House card is dealt.

Twenty-four squares pulled from this movie’s own quirks — the cosy classics, a few only-in-this-one curveballs, and a couple of decoys. Mark them as you watch.

Open your card

Lines worth quoting

The lines that stuck with us — the ones you’ll be repeating after the credits roll.

“I don't use new paper. It has history. Somebody threw this away. I get to bring it back to life.”
— BillyExplaining why she writes on recycled scraps.
“We weren't homeless. We were houseless. For a house... is merely four walls and a roof. A home is the love that fills the space.”
— BillyReading from her book at the end of the film.
“I swallowed a bottle of pills.”
— RuthRevealing the truth of her 'accident' to her daughter.
“Please tell Robert I made the climb.”
— BillyHer final words to Ruth, referring to her deceased husband and her own recovery.

Meet the characters

Who’s who before you press play. Nothing here gives the ending away.

Ruth Galloway
Lead
Widow/Philanthropist
CompassionateLonelyResilientAltruistic
Larry Hartfield
Love interest
Pro-bono Lawyer
Attorney and Billy's love interest
KindIdealisticPatient
Geena
Antagonist
Attorney
Daughter
WorkaholicJudgmentalColdEventually Redemptive
Billy
Supporting
Writer/Student
Savior and close friend
GuardedProtectiveIntelligentTraumatized
Milkbone
Supporting
Mechanic
House resident
HandyLoyalGrateful