It's too quirky for its own good...trying to weave finding his sister in with a new love interest and advice from a bird - this movie is all over the place. What could be touching is so schmaltzy that it loses its bite altogether.

A wonderful cast that understands the wonderful script and the scenario that accompanies the wonderful song selection. The movie doesn't promise much. It's not a blockbuster anyway. The film expertly tells a small story. Which is why I like little stories of little people. Lucas Jade Zumann will write his name in the 21st century.

You can tell from the get go that this film is made from a book and that who made the film is from New York. It's the perfect blend of introspection and neurosis. Nicely acted, touching at the same time the weird and wonderful perspective on life that young people have, full of feeling and confusion, and the reality of one's existence. Yes, it ends predictably with the young'un reaching maturity, but it also celebrates youth, with all of its idiosyncrasies. The references to classic literature were kept at a minimum, while the occasional foray into different movie styles was just a one time gimmick and less something to distract from the story.

Bottom line: good film, fresh take, a bit slow and not by any means perfect, but better than what I've seen lately.