Cindy and Jim desperately want a child. After a strange supernatural miracle occurs, they get one. However, it's not exactly the child they wanted. First of all, he's already ten years old. Secondly, he seems to be an earth/plant kid with leaves oddly growing out of his legs. Soon they discover that he's almost an ordinary boy. He has some unusual qualities, some wonderful, some strange.
I have to admit at the outset that I enjoyed this fantasy and was moved by it. I wanted to see where it would go. I thought CJ Abrams was well cast and did a good acting job.
On the other hand, I had some problems with the plot, writing and acting. I can accept the lack of realism, but some of it felt too contrived and emotionally manipulative.
Why did his leaves die? Because he was growing up? Because he was helping people? Because he was fulfilling the wishes of his parents (and thus not being his true self)? I don't know. The leaves represented something...but what?
In the end, I'm not sure what the point of the movie was. Accept your kids for the way they are? Was that it? I expected an aha moment, but it never came for me. A fable needs a lesson, right? In the end, the movie was lame because it didn't deliver. Or maybe I'm not the right viewer to appreciate a Disney family fable with a subtle message. Having said all this, I did watch the entire movie and it did leave me with a warm feeling. I think it might be a good movie for families with odd kids.
I'm giving it 6 for now, but I may raise this to 7 later.
I have to admit at the outset that I enjoyed this fantasy and was moved by it. I wanted to see where it would go. I thought CJ Abrams was well cast and did a good acting job.
On the other hand, I had some problems with the plot, writing and acting. I can accept the lack of realism, but some of it felt too contrived and emotionally manipulative.
Why did his leaves die? Because he was growing up? Because he was helping people? Because he was fulfilling the wishes of his parents (and thus not being his true self)? I don't know. The leaves represented something...but what?
In the end, I'm not sure what the point of the movie was. Accept your kids for the way they are? Was that it? I expected an aha moment, but it never came for me. A fable needs a lesson, right? In the end, the movie was lame because it didn't deliver. Or maybe I'm not the right viewer to appreciate a Disney family fable with a subtle message. Having said all this, I did watch the entire movie and it did leave me with a warm feeling. I think it might be a good movie for families with odd kids.
I'm giving it 6 for now, but I may raise this to 7 later.