THE BOY WHO COULD FLY. Directed and written by Nick Castle; produced by Gary Adelson for Lorimar. Starring Lucy Deakins and Jay Underwood. Rated PG (very little, very mild, vulgar language).
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The Boy Who Could Fly is quite unlike most movies made for teenagers today. But it's very much a teenagers' movie. It appeals to the romance and idealism of their fantasies without also appealing to baser instincts. It's sentimental wish-fulfillment, pure and simple.
Granted, lots of adults enjoy seeing wishes fulfilled, too. And many of them will also enjoy Boy Who Could Fly. But generally speaking, the movie is for kids. The teenage heroine Millie (Deakins) even has an 8-year-old brother whose entertaining subplot provides interest for the younger set.
The characters in The Boy Who Could Fly have some pretty serious problems, like autism, helpless grief, and alcoholism. But they're dealt with in a light, mostly non-serious way. This contradiction between the substance of the story and its tone causes some problems for the audience. But the acting is so sincere, and the characters so likeable, that most of the time these problems don't seem very important.
Deakins does an excellent job. Millie is so freshly pretty and sweet, but still so down-to-earth (so to speak) that it's impossible not to identify with her. This young actress has a bright future, to judge by her work in this movie.
Underwood, as the autistic Eric, has a tough assignment here. Without speaking, or even smiling for most of the picture, he must create an appealing character. Morever, he must make Eric's attraction for Millie, and her affection for him, believeable. Given such constraints, he succeeds admirably. Another name to watch.
The supporting cast also delivers fine performances, especially Bonnie Bedelia as Millie's mother. What's truly remarkable about the adults in this movie, though, is that they're all fine, sympathetic people (with one exception, which I'll get to in a minute). I can't remember another movie focusing on teens where this has been true. Often there are no adults at all in such movies. Or, if there are, they're at best ineffectual, even stupid, and at worst downright demonic. While neither this movie's view nor the usual one is completely right, it's at least refreshing to see something different.
The one character who comes close to shattering the movie's fragile, rosy little world is Eric's uncle. He's very strikingly played by Fred Gwynne (remember Herman Munster?) and he's a hopeless alcoholic. It's very unlikely that he would be allowed to remain guardian for any child, much less someone like Eric, even in the optimistic world of The Boy Who Could Fly.
In addition, I'm not sure how to take his drunken antics. The script and Millie's reactions indicate they're supposed to be funny. But I've never been a fan of drunk humor; it's too hard to laugh in such a sad situation.
When Gwynne is on screen, I'm uncomfortable with the movie's sentimental over-simplication of reality. But those are the only times it bothers me. For most of its length, The Boy Who Could Fly is pleaasnt, light-weight late summer entertainment. Not unforgettable, to be sure, but an interesting diversion.
September 10, 1986