I can’t share a really good movie without sharing my disappointment in another. Two movies arrived recently courtesy of Netflix, The Squid and the Whale and Little Manhattan. Like Little Manhattan, Squid also has a story of a kid growing up in a house with parents in the middle of a divorce. After having viewed Squid, I knew why the critics loved it, and why it was nominated for an Oscar.

Squid went for the lowest common denominator. The movie drowns in deviant behavior shocking the audience with gratuitous filth. I’m no prude, but when a little boy jerks off at school, smearing his DNA on the books and lockers, it just turns me off. And I haven’t even shared with you this little boy’s drinking problem. Sure there were some great performances, they were just delivered in a cesspool.

Thank goodness, Little Manhattan was in the stack to clear the palette. Little Manhattan is the overused cliche, a coming-of-age movie. It revolves around Gabe (Josh Hutcherson) the son of divorcing parents, running free in a summertime Manhattan. In Gabe’s karate class, fate pairs him with an old sandbox acquaintance, and soon a new kind of friendship ensues. It’s the first time Gabe realizes that he might actually like girls.

In the blink of an eye, Gabe goes from cringing at the thought of hanging with a girl, to falling in like with Rosemary (Charlie Ray). Soon, Gabe and Rosemary begin a whirlwind adolescent romance while trotting around a gorgeously shot Manhattan. Gabe’s constant mental chatter used as narration really kept my nerves tense. It’s the kind of thing that made me squirm; remembering young love all too well. Rosemary played here by newcomer Charlie Ray was the perfect, sweet, girl next door type. I almost don’t believe the claim that she’s never acted before in her life, she was just too natural, and too good.

Also solid in supporting roles were Gabe’s parents Adam and Leslie. Played here by Bradley Whitford (The West Wing) and Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the City) their performances were touching without crowding our little stars. Little Manhattan has the heart of Big and the humor (gross out) of Stand By Me. There are little, subtle nods to a few movie classics, and it’s fun finding them. Little Manhattan is definitely a charmer, and a warm one at that.

It’s the kind of movie I got wrapped up in because movies like this are rare, and the kids in them are too. The youngsters in Little Manhattan have mannerisms that probably started to fade away sometime in the 80s. Kids now know too much about things they shouldn’t. They are political because they are bombarded with info, and parrot what they hear. They seem to know too much about sex, drugs, and bomb making.


The only nit I have to pick is that Gabe, and especially Rosemary, speak in a way that’s just too mature for kids that are eleven years old. Their choice of words, inflections and cadence; move from young nervousness, to something that’s just a bit too mature and polished. Some of the comments from our two stars killed the mood. The writers should have toned down the adult speak.

In spite of those flaws, Gabe’s narration with his constant worry, self doubt and descent into utter hell adds to the charm. The music soundtrack used throughout is spot on, too bad there's no soundtrack. Newcomer Matt White's upbeat Love simply dances during Gabe and Rosemary’s day in Central Park.



Bottom line

Little Manhattan received mixed reviews, and with Hollywood being what it is, I can totally understand. I’m sure if these 11 year olds were shooting heroin, the negative would have spun to positive. I’m sure it would’ve been pinned as being so progressive, so real, and so edgy. If you’re tired of edgy, Little Manhattan is a good time despite its minor issues, and sometimes overly sweet feeling. Little Manhattan is the kind of movie where all the phones have cords, the kids don’t swear, and nobody is e-mailing or texting someone else.

Little Manhattan was written and directed by a husband and wife team with total control. What ended up on screen is really something special. It’s the kind of movie you are happy to get lost in, and believe in for 90 minutes. Little Manhattan will remind you constantly of your ‘Rosemary’ or your ‘Gabe.’ It will also remind you of how crazy love can make you, and how it can make you weak in the knees. In karate class, Gabe sums up first love perfectly when he states “By 3:51 I had descended fully into madness.” Truer words were never spoken my man.



© Tony Flores 2006




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Recommended:
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Viewing Format: DVD