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Created Feb 07, 2009 05:04PM PST • Edited Feb 07, 2009 05:04PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Very Good 3.5

   A great movie about a young boy with the misfortune of having his Bar Mitzvah scheduled on the same day as England participated win the World Cup Soccer championship in 1966. This is movie is much more than about that main plot and instead focuses on family life and a brief bit from Bernie Reubens (Gregg Sulkin) coming of age in the mid 1960’s in London. The Reubens are a blue-collar Jewish family and the movie does great studies of the dad (Eddie Marsan), who is out-shone by his handsomer over-achiever brother, the loyal mom (Helena Bonham Carter), the bullying brother, and oh yeah – throw in a blind Rabbi while you are at it. This film is suitable for a family audience, and is a warm and pleasing story.

4. Acting

   Great 4.0

   The young Gregg Sulkin is a standout in this movie with his quirky nature and perfect mannerisms for that kid that always gets picked on. Eddie Marsan also does great as the shy and sometimes frustrated dad. I wanted to see more of Helena Carter who was excellent in making herself into the understated and loyal mom. All the supporting crew were great though!

5. Male Stars Great 4.0

6. Female Stars Great 4.0

7. Female Costars Great 4.0

8. Male Costars Great 4.0

10. Film

    Very Good 3.5

    Well done — put you right in to the world if 1960’s england. Excellent directing. The use of the family setting in addition to focusing on characters made the film in to a complete whole.

11. Direction Very Good 3.5

12. Play Very Good 3.5

13. Music Very Good 3.5

14. Visuals Very Good 3.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Tame 1.0

17. Sex Innocent 1.0

18. Violence Gentle 1.0

19. Rudeness Polite 1.0

21. Reality

    Glib 2.0

22. Circumstantial Glib 2.0

23. Biological Glib 2.0

24. Physical Glib 2.0