Just perfect...

Am I Missing Something?

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

This film was not exactly what I expected, although to tell the truth not even I know for sure what I was expecting from it. The idea is interesting: a middle-aged man named Graham (portrayed by William Hurt) who gets interested in a boy named James and decides to adopt him. However, their relationship is very turbulent. The boy often has sudden fury attacks, which (as you can guess and understand) takes Graham to despair. Even when the boy finally begins to get along well with him, there comes a time when he suddenly changes again... although later the boy demonstrates that he's human by hugging Graham when he cries. The ending is apparently happy - they seem to end up together.The film's got some good moments when Graham and Jamie get along fine and is also a nice attempt on this very difficult relationship. It has some gorgeous cinematography as well, thanks to the magnificent sunsets and the nature sceneries.William Hurt's acting as Graham is good, perhaps his best performance on pair with his Professor Hobby in 'A.I.: Artificial Intelligence'. A very cute Nathan Yapp portrays well a young James (as Jimmy) and Chris Cleary Miles portrays well the disturbed James some years older.

A brace of Hurts, William and (in a minor role) John, feature in this story of a middle aged man who adopts a troubled child, and does some belated growing-up in the process. Sensitively done, but there's something slightly obvious about it, the ideas are quite subtle but the realisations lack depth. Overall, a middling "Play for Today".

The story theme rings true and shows the way. The world is still not a "kid friendly" place. It takes a very special adult and effort for a damaged child to re-bond with an adult. The single act that made it possible for James to finally re-connect was Graham taking in James' father. James needed that closure.I think one of William Hurt's best efforts. And Chris Cleary Miles gave a riveting performance. It's a shame he didn't do anything else.Simon Boswel's haunting theme and score was an added plus.I wish they'd make the movie available in the DVD format and re-release the sound track.

William Hurt is very believable as a west country postmaster and the adoption process is taken apart in a sympathetic and believable manner. The film has charm and pace while dealing with a difficult subject. If it were to be made now would there be a different emphasis in the light of current obsessions with protecting children from paedophiles?