

Director: Rod Hardy
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Lee Cormie, Christian Byers, James Fraser

Synopsis:
Based on the novel by the same title, it tells the coming of age story of 4 boys who were given a chance for vacation with a family during December, the month of their birthday ...

My thoughts:

What I like ...

-- The songs ... rather nostalgic of those earlier days ... esp. the last song near the end, and the two songs in the ending credits ...

-- The last half an hour ... it becomes rather meaningful and touching ... for the earlier one and half hour, some of us may hope the pace pick up a bit ... but of course if you love the idyllic lifestyle with little plot, you may enjoy the film still ...

-- The 4 kids ... WOW ... let me say this -- if only they were given a more powerful script (like Stand By Me), I think they will be very well known by now. IMHO, they can all act, but I guess the script is not engaging enough to draw us all in and find them memorable enough ...

-- Nice cinematography ... by the sea ...

What can be better

-- The script and tightening of the pace ... IMHO, you do not need to have an idle pace to depict an idyllic life on screen ...


Conclusion:
Can watch, esp. the last half an hour or so. To me, that was the saving grace for the entire film ... For the first one and half hour, it will only appeal to those who reminisce about their laid back life or their younger days of whiling time away ... but the last half an hour, it is interesting and it touches ...