User Reviews

First let me say that I'm not at all religious, and the reason Netflix or Amazon recommended this to me was that I liked "Fireproof" and a couple other far less preachy Christian themed films. I was hoping this would be in the less preachy category too. Needless to say, it wasn't. In fact, it was, like another reviewer stated, more like a church service. Further, much of the acting was mediocre, and often amateurish. So why did I give it 7 stars? Because the basic story was very involving, and the lead boy who played Johnny was excellent. The story is set up for tears. A fine surgeon and his wife have lost their 10 year old son in a car accident and the wife has not forgiven herself after two years. I won't disclose the reason why. One of her husbands patients is Johnny, who has terminal leukemia. He is extremely precocious and wise beyond his 10 years and extremely religious, but has no family as his mother has died. The surgeon who has just operated on him decides to "adopt" him, hoping it might help his wife move on. If that sounds ridiculous, I can't blame you. But he brings the boy home over her vigorous objections, and despite the poor acting of the mother and some of the kids and the unlikely lines they have to recite, the movie plays out well, mainly because Johnny is so good. Plus, without giving anything away, after all the tears of sadness, there is a non-religious kicker at the end that I wasn't expecting requiring two or three tissues for tears of joy. I am still not a bit religious, though I can see where believing when faced with premature death might give comfort. I forgive all the corn and preaching since the story itself was good and involving. Not good enough for a 10 nor bad enough for a 1, but if you like a tearjerker like I do, then I think a 7 is just right.

I'm an ordained minister, but this was more like sitting through a church service than watching a movie. I don't mind a good faith based movie, but this one took it way overboard. The movie would have been much better had they cut out about 90% of the religious material. For example, the group home administrator going over bible verses with kids, ain't gonna happen, as it is run/paid for by the state. It's just not realistic.

The movie itself was very heartwarming. The mother's acting was a bit over the top (melodramatic), almost to the point of overacting. There were times she was crying her head off, and the next moment, she was straight faced with no tears, then right back to balling. There are some continuity issues as a result. It's just poor writing/directing.

They picked a great cast otherwise. The kids are both adorable. The actors playing the doctors were good, however there is a line in the surgical room where the anesthesiologist calls for an EpiPen to be used on the boy when his heart goes asystole (medical term meaning "without rhythm"). They would use epinephrine from a vial in a surgical ward, not from an EpiPen, which is what someone with severe allergies would carry about their person for immediate inject should they come into contact with something they are allergic to and have a reaction. Also, the monitor keeps showing flat-line (asystole) with the word apnea beneath it. Apnea means without breathing. Oddly, he wasn't intubated, nor was he on oxygen. I didn't see anyone using a bag valve mask on him (or doing rescue breathing at all) during the CPR. I was an EMT for over 15 years, I can't help but knit-pick.

With all its flaws, I would recommend this movie. It's available on Netflix, and you could do much, much worse. It's very endearing, but you will cry. No matter how you might prepare yourself for knowing someone will die, when they do, and you've become emotionally connected, you will grieve for the loss.

First off, I checked spoiler because "terminally ill" gives itself away. Let me tell you all something.. This movie made me cry and I Don't CRY. This movie is so home based that you cant do anything but. If you have ever had someone close to you ripped away, beware and have an extra box of Puffs(TM) or Kleenex(TM) cause you will drench them. If you have pent up stress, this movie is what you will need to be able to let it out. Good job to Jerry Phillips, and all the other cast. Great Job for you, five stars! *****

I will and do recommend this movie as a family night movie. Yes its sad, but its a good one to show your kid(s) that life is short and needs to be lived. Yes there is a strong religious background in this movie, and if you don't believe in god-welcome to America. Ignore that part and watch this kid work some screen magic. He is going to sink into your eyes and clog up your tear drains so they are coming' down the face! Good luck and runny noses.

I think Jerry Phillips was just perfect for the role as Johhny. He just crawls into your heart very early in the movie. I totally get the message that God loves us and when you rent of buy a movie where you know the main character is going to die from leukemia, you know to expect a movie that will guarantee you tears ( I guess I will have to call that a spoiler, but you also read it on the box). But I think we should all watch a movie like this at least once or twice, because only then we realize what people might be going through having a similar experience. Leukemia is a reality and people die from it, and when it is a child, it is painful.

If you are not touched by this movie you either don't like children or you don't have a heart. The acting is not perfect, but I can look past that, seeing that half of the main characters are children. The movie is not too long, in fact, I get the sense that most of the full length scenes are important and through time lapsing techniques some other less important scenes move by quickly. This is always a director's nightmare if you don't want the movie to be too long and you have to exclude some of your most precious scenes.

The story comes together beautifully and eventually everything comes together and no character is included by accident. Eventually every person's role in the movie is important and we realize why they are there.

I really enjoyed watching it and crying my heart out. That's why people like me watch movies like this.