The characters in Bed of Roses are good, well-acted, deeply felt, but that isn't always enough. There has to be a reason for us to care. This is often the hardest thing to get across to an audience - there isn't even necessarily a formula (if you start to think there is, let me direct your attention to Patch Adams, which was practically all formula). With these two main characters both somewhat disconnected from their lives, it makes it more difficult for the audience to connect. It's still a good movie, with a heart to it, but they would have had to ace every category for it to be a great, compelling one.