STORM BOY – A Review by Cynthia Flores
Storm Boy is a beautiful retelling of Collin Thiele’s classic Australian novel of the same name. Storm Boy (Finn Little) has grown up to be Michael Kingley (Geoffrey Rush), a successful retired businessman. When Kingley starts to see images like pelicans or Fingerbone Bill (Trevor Jamieson) from his past that he can’t explain, he’s forced to remember his long-forgotten childhood with his father Hideaway Tom (Jai Courtney). On the day he must vote at his company that his son Malcolm (Erik Thomson) runs now, he’s troubled. Michael gets lost in his memories as he must decide whether or not to vote yes to destroy a wild piece of land for development and make a lot of money for the company. He spends the morning with his grand-daughter Madeline (Morgana Davies) telling her about growing up alone on the end of a beach with his father. He recounts to her the story of how, as a boy, he and Fingerbone Bill rescued and raised three orphaned pelicans. The smallest of them was the extraordinary Mr. Percival, named after a character in one of his books. He’s the only one of the three that came back after they were released into the wild. Mr. Percival would never leave his friend Storm Boy and chose him and his father Tom to be his family.
This wonderfully acted and directed film lets us see the remarkable adventures and extraordinary bond between Storm Boy and Mr. Percival and the profound effect their unconditional friendship would have on all their lives. As I watched this great film, I was reminded of such film classics as Old Yeller or Where the Red Fern Grows. This film Storm Boy is a beloved book studied in schools in Australia, was a 1976 film and a sold-out play in 2013 in Western Australia. I’m so glad that we here in the states will now get the chance to enjoy this timeless story of love and friendship. I give Storm Boy an A rating.
Directed by Shawn Seet
Written by Justin Monjo, Colin Thiele
Rated PG
Selig Rating A
Running Time 98min
Family Adventure
Wide Release April 5th
Starring: Jai Courtney, Geoffrey Rush, Finn Little, Trevor Jamison, Morgana Davies, Erik Thompson
The Selig Rating Scale:
A – Excellent movie, well worth the price.
B – Good movie
C – OK movie
D – No need to rush. Save it for a rainy day.
F – Good that I saw it on the big screen but wish I hadn’t paid for it.
