Another film with a flawed final act is The Book of Henry, but like Baby Driver it boasts a very good first half and characters that truly resonate, and that helps it through its inevitable rough patch.  It is inevitable because of where the story heads even before one major character exits, and because once the story pushes in that direction it simply cannot win, no matter which path is chosen to get there.  Writer Gregg Hurwitz has devised a story that cannot be resolved in any truly satisfying way.

Colin Trevorrow’s film follows the Carpenter family: single mom Susan (Naomi Watts) is raising genius 11-year-old Henry (Jaeden Lieberher) and spunky, normal 8-year-old Peter (Jacob Tremblay).  Their unorthodox household is put under strain when one of them becomes ill and when the next-door neighbor girl Christina (Maddie Ziegler) begins to show signs of abuse.  Stuff happens and then the movie takes a very, very dark turn.  It is the dark turn which seems so troubling to audiences (including me) — and yet if it is remembered that everything revolves around the perspective of a child, it still makes sense.

The film is rated PG-13, for language and adult themes, and this is entirely appropriate.  I bring this up because The Book of Henry is a film about a family, but I would not recommend it at all to families with young children; there is simply so much that would be difficult to explain to kids.  On the other hand, I think teens could certainly benefit from its points about observation, accountability, sibling loyalty and living life to the fullest.  It is affecting drama throughout, well acted and even brave.  But it is unsettling.

For me anyway, the rewards outweigh the flaws and difficulties of the final act.  It is an odd but original story, unafraid to move into risky, uncomfortable territory, with enough humor to balance some of its mournful moments.  Most of all it is a film about having the bravery to be oneself and to stand up against injustice.  As Henry notes at one point, “Violence isn’t the worst thing in the world.”  “What is,” asks his mother.  “Apathy” is his wise conclusion.  ☆ ☆ ☆.  4 July 2017.