There was a lot I wanted to like about this movie. The acting was good and the story very interesting. The problem was, despite all this, there were some HUGE holes in the plot that just made the movie look contrived.
The story begins with a bratty 11 year-old (Emma) being ignored by her self-involved mother. As her family is rich, Emma decides to fake her own kidnapping. And I liked it when it becomes apparent just how indifferent Mom is and how apparently decent Dad is--though because he works so hard he finally realizes he's taken his little girl for granted. I liked the basic plot so far.
However, what do you do with a little girl? Any place she hides in the city, people are bound to recognize her or at least ask her where she lives. After all, an 11 year-old can't just wander the streets indefinitely. This is where the plot all falls apart for me. A lonely sewer worker takes her in and believes, at least at first, her ridiculous story. He never checks this out for himself but allows her to stay there for several days!! Huh?! Then, she collects the ransom money (with the assistance of some neighbor boys) and takes them all to stay at the fanciest hotel in town and live like royalty?! And STILL no questions? Ultimately, the man is arrested because they think HE kidnapped Emma. But, in the end she tells the truth and everyone is apparently satisfied!! Talk about contrived! This could never happen on any planet I have ever visited!!
The story begins with a bratty 11 year-old (Emma) being ignored by her self-involved mother. As her family is rich, Emma decides to fake her own kidnapping. And I liked it when it becomes apparent just how indifferent Mom is and how apparently decent Dad is--though because he works so hard he finally realizes he's taken his little girl for granted. I liked the basic plot so far.
However, what do you do with a little girl? Any place she hides in the city, people are bound to recognize her or at least ask her where she lives. After all, an 11 year-old can't just wander the streets indefinitely. This is where the plot all falls apart for me. A lonely sewer worker takes her in and believes, at least at first, her ridiculous story. He never checks this out for himself but allows her to stay there for several days!! Huh?! Then, she collects the ransom money (with the assistance of some neighbor boys) and takes them all to stay at the fanciest hotel in town and live like royalty?! And STILL no questions? Ultimately, the man is arrested because they think HE kidnapped Emma. But, in the end she tells the truth and everyone is apparently satisfied!! Talk about contrived! This could never happen on any planet I have ever visited!!