When 13 year old boy finds he can mysteriously travel between two worlds, he begins an adventure that unlocks family secrets laid buried for generations.
Harmless, but nicely produced period piece (depicting two different English periods) has a clear message against class conceit and racism.
Ethics, being human and the soul come to the fore when a 7-year old
finds a bag of Pounds just days before the currency is switched to Euros
and learns what we are really made of.
Flashy and colorful moral fantasy has its moments, and the kids perform excellently, but the movie carries its message blatantly on its sleeve.
Maltin***: "A smart, surprising and spiritual change of pace for TRAINSPOTTING director Boyle...Newcomer Ethel provides genuinely touching moments that are never maudlin. Boyle's zippy visuals are another plus; he forgoes the usually dreary movie look of British neighborhoods to make these sunny English 'burbs look like a Technicolor haven."
