Is it much fun for a young boy to grow up in a home for dementia sufferers? You don't really need to see this movie to know the answer to that question, but just in case there's any confusion: it's bloody awful.
Edward's mother and father (who run the joint) are far too busy changing bedpans, chasing after rogue pensioners and arguing with each other to raise their son properly, so of course he ends up going off the rails and causing mischief around the place. Any neglected kid his age would do exactly the same.
Then he meets Clarence (played by Michael Caine) a new arrival there, who he initially butts heads with but later forms a strong bond. The former magician becomes the proper father Edward never had, and in return the boy helps Clarence rediscover his zest for his old magic act and the love of his life that he left behind.
Despite some nice performances and at least two laugh-out-loud moments, the main drawback here is that everything feels rushed. Edward doesn't have any friends at school... then he does a couple of magic tricks, and he's the most popular kid in school. Clarence seems quite aware of everything around him one day, then the next day he can't even remember anyone's name. Pacing, people... PACING.
But with such a short running time, I suppose certain scenes showing gradual plot and character development weren't possible. It's just such a shame, to have a talented cast and not give them enough material to turn this entertaining drama into something truly special.
By the end, as Edward hovered over Clarence's corpse to bid a tearful farewell, it was a bit difficult to empathise with his anguish... because the script hadn't given us enough reason to care. A few more scenes together, and who knows? I guess we never will. 6/10
Edward's mother and father (who run the joint) are far too busy changing bedpans, chasing after rogue pensioners and arguing with each other to raise their son properly, so of course he ends up going off the rails and causing mischief around the place. Any neglected kid his age would do exactly the same.
Then he meets Clarence (played by Michael Caine) a new arrival there, who he initially butts heads with but later forms a strong bond. The former magician becomes the proper father Edward never had, and in return the boy helps Clarence rediscover his zest for his old magic act and the love of his life that he left behind.
Despite some nice performances and at least two laugh-out-loud moments, the main drawback here is that everything feels rushed. Edward doesn't have any friends at school... then he does a couple of magic tricks, and he's the most popular kid in school. Clarence seems quite aware of everything around him one day, then the next day he can't even remember anyone's name. Pacing, people... PACING.
But with such a short running time, I suppose certain scenes showing gradual plot and character development weren't possible. It's just such a shame, to have a talented cast and not give them enough material to turn this entertaining drama into something truly special.
By the end, as Edward hovered over Clarence's corpse to bid a tearful farewell, it was a bit difficult to empathise with his anguish... because the script hadn't given us enough reason to care. A few more scenes together, and who knows? I guess we never will. 6/10