I actually spent a great deal of this movie trying to hate it due to its fair amount of flaws. It's cutesy, predictive mush that likes to jerk hard on the heartstrings and any sensible moviegoer would roll his eyes and beat his head against the seat before him. But I guess I'm a sucker for the weird kid no one understands. If nothing else, this film had good intentions, and those intentions should count for something.
The movie begins with David, a grieving widower (who is not gay despite the movie's origins, but hey) who decides, for some reason involving the wishes of his late wife, to adopt a kid. But not just any kid--the autistic, traumatized Dennis who hides in a box. Crying puppy sad enough for you? But never fear--David is a offbeat sci-fi writer with a quirky friend-who-is-a-girl and a sensible sister to make everything all better. We get to watch David and Dennis struggle to bond and face the real world, using all sorts of great inspirational lines. Yay for all those writers, and another roll of eyes for having the character of the editor weep fondly over the story-of-the-story.
The filming and the score are only average, and frankly so was the storytelling. And yes, I did check my watch once or twice during the many slower parts.
But I suppose it was a slow story, and I did appreciate the whimsical bits of comedy. Even if it were so-so writing, it was a cast of actors that can certainly hold their own, especially the little boy.
And I was crying at the end. So sue me.
The movie begins with David, a grieving widower (who is not gay despite the movie's origins, but hey) who decides, for some reason involving the wishes of his late wife, to adopt a kid. But not just any kid--the autistic, traumatized Dennis who hides in a box. Crying puppy sad enough for you? But never fear--David is a offbeat sci-fi writer with a quirky friend-who-is-a-girl and a sensible sister to make everything all better. We get to watch David and Dennis struggle to bond and face the real world, using all sorts of great inspirational lines. Yay for all those writers, and another roll of eyes for having the character of the editor weep fondly over the story-of-the-story.
The filming and the score are only average, and frankly so was the storytelling. And yes, I did check my watch once or twice during the many slower parts.
But I suppose it was a slow story, and I did appreciate the whimsical bits of comedy. Even if it were so-so writing, it was a cast of actors that can certainly hold their own, especially the little boy.
And I was crying at the end. So sue me.