LITTLE BOY

LITTLE BOY is a beautiful, deeply acted film about a child whose faith is tested when his father goes to fight in World War II. Its fanciful sets, tremendous cinematography, and wonderful performances give the story real emotional and artistic power.

The problem is that the movie makes magical thinking a major plot motivator. A priest tries to distinguish magical thinking from Christian faith in the Creator God, but many Christians will still find the film too unclear on that point. The story also moves through several premises, from belief to overcoming racism to God doing the impossible, which weakens its sense of jeopardy.

Some strong violence, including a beating and wartime shootings, makes this unsuitable for young children. If your family is ready to discuss the film's confusions about faith, take the trip with older children; otherwise, choose something gentler.

In a nearly picture-perfect California beach town during World War II, an eight-year-old boy known as “Little Boy” struggles because he is not growing physically. His father is his best friend, and together they share the motto of a comic book magician who is secretly a world-saving spy: “Do you believe?”

When the Army sends his father to fight in the Philippines, Little Boy turns to the magician's example. After a stage performance appears to give him magical power, the boy begins trying to use that power to bring his father home.

Three stars means this is a very good film whose strengths are held back by significant weaknesses. LITTLE BOY is beautifully photographed, artistic, and filled with fanciful sets, tremendous cinematography, and wonderful acting.

Its premise, however, morphs throughout the movie. The changing focus—from belief, to love overcoming racism, to God doing the impossible—creates moments without much jeopardy and detracts from the story. The film's beauty keeps those moments from becoming boring, but it cannot fully repair the plot's eclectic structure.

LITTLE BOY has overt Christian, redemptive, and moral elements, but they are diminished by too much magical thinking. A priest tries several times to explain the difference between magical thinking and real faith in the Creator God, who is the key to “moving mountains.” The film also includes humanism, which is subtly refuted, along with other eclectic elements.

The movie presents faith as something tested by suffering and uncertainty. It also values love over racism, while showing the damage caused by bullying, vandalism, and jingoism. Yet the story's use of magical thinking makes its Christian message less clear than it should be.

The film's central question is what happens to faith when God does not do what someone asks. Scripture gives a sure foundation: “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

LITTLE BOY is a lovely, well-acted film with a strong moral heart and troubling confusion about magical thinking. Its violence rules out young children, but older children and adults may find a worthwhile conversation about faith, suffering, and love. Our answer is WORTH THE TRIP — MIDDLE SCHOOL AND UP.