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Title: The Book of Henry (2017)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Naomi Watts | ... | Susan Carpenter | |
| Jaeden Lieberher | ... | Henry Carpenter | |
| Jacob Tremblay | ... | Peter Carpenter | |
| Sarah Silverman | ... | Sheila | |
| Dean Norris | ... | Glenn Sickleman | |
| Lee Pace | ... | Dr. David Daniels | |
| Maddie Ziegler | ... | Christina | |
| Tonya Pinkins | ... | Principal Wilder | |
| Bobby Moynihan | ... | John | |
| Geraldine Hughes | ... | Mrs. Evans | |
| Maxwell Simkins | ... | Tommy (as Max Simkins) | |
| Jackson Nicoll | ... | Morris | |
| Donnetta Lavinia Grays | ... | Nurse Leah | |
| Joel Marsh Garland | ... | Big Ed | |
| Wass Stevens | ... | Gary | |
Juggling a job as a waitress and raising two boys on her own--little Peter, and the 11-year-old child prodigy, Henry--the single mother, Susan Carpenter, has a somewhat chaotic life, depending on Henry to manage the household's finances. However, things will take an unexpected turn, when Henry's innocent crush on the beautiful girl next door and hopeful ballet dancer, Christina, unveils a cruel and shocking revelation, dragging Susan in the middle of a dark conspiracy. Will the Carpenters take the law into their own hands; moreover, what's written inside Henry's little red book? Written by Nick Riganas
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The Book of Henry is part thriller and part soap opera, the former with possibilities, the latter mired in melodrama so debilitating as to sink the entire film in melancholia. At least for this critic.
Single mom Susan (Naomi) has a precocious, some say genius, 11 year old son, Henry (Jaeden Lieberher), and a normal cutie, Peter (Jacob Tremblay) in a household filled with love and dislocations. So far you know the clichéd circumstances, but fear not, Susan will be guided through difficulties by a co-worker waitress with a breast tattoo and smart mouth, Sheila (Sarah Silverman), and a tall, dark, handsome neurosurgeon, David Daniels (Lee Pace), whom she meets by chance.
And that's just for stereotypical starters.
When you get over the tight shots of Susan in pain or tears (too many shots), you'll discover the germ of a thriller involving a Police Commissioner neighbor, Glenn Sickelman (Dean Norris)—catch the name? and his abused step daughter, Christina (Maddie Ziegler). Bright Henry would like to champion the abused girl, but the commish is formidable. This is the most successful part of the film, albeit never fore grounded enough.
That plot has real possibilities shredded away by the melodrama. It's a shame because there are too many real-life victims who need to see the chance they may have to right an egregious wrong. The dislocation of household power by having Henry call the shots including the finances is close to the realm of the impossible. Yet, that reversal of roles has been played before, as unbelievable as it may seem.
But the recent presidential election is what I would call unbelievable, so this plot may not qualify. Naomi Watts is a fine actress but not meant to spend an entire film in the throes of stress. But wait, perhaps the neurosurgeon can help. Yeah, Boy!