This is a story about a boy trying to find a magical cure for his mother's illness. It's not a fantastical film, it's just about how he grows to understand what the situation is and come to terms with it. Is it terribly captivating? Not really. It is emotional, but not greatly so. It is with children, but they are not particularly cute or intelligent or interesting. I think it will click a lot with people who have lost someone dear or who live with sickness in the family, but it's not that accessible to others.
Perhaps the worse thing about this film is how it used the cast to pull you in a story that doesn't really use them. You see a bit of Rosario Dawson and some glimpses of Alfred Molina and Maria Bello, even when they are the three top billed actors in the cast. Shame! Because the only people you spend time with are the two kids and bit with the boy's father. Special appearance for the character of the librarian, real life wife of the actor who plays the father.
So it could have been better and they had to resort to cast baiting to get people to watch. That doesn't make it bad, just a less than satisfactory approach. Also, it's a bit niche.
Bottom line: it's a childhood drama film. Many out there which are better and more honest.
Perhaps the worse thing about this film is how it used the cast to pull you in a story that doesn't really use them. You see a bit of Rosario Dawson and some glimpses of Alfred Molina and Maria Bello, even when they are the three top billed actors in the cast. Shame! Because the only people you spend time with are the two kids and bit with the boy's father. Special appearance for the character of the librarian, real life wife of the actor who plays the father.
So it could have been better and they had to resort to cast baiting to get people to watch. That doesn't make it bad, just a less than satisfactory approach. Also, it's a bit niche.
Bottom line: it's a childhood drama film. Many out there which are better and more honest.