Most came for the Hollywood heavy-hitters such as “Captain America’s” Chris Evans and “The Help” actress, Octavia Spencer, but will leave loving a new young starlet, the precocious and brilliant Mckenna Grace.
The movie sets place in a bright Florida city, with Frank (Chris Evans), who is raising his deceased sister’s child, Mary (Mckenna Grace). The two live in a shabby, one-bedroom home with a witty and loving neighbor, Roberta (Octavia Spencer). Although seemingly a happy, unconventional family, Mary, the 6-year-old is a math genius, following the footstep of her mother, a proclaimed Mathematician, who took her own life years before.
Mary’s grandmother Evelyn, a staunch, old British woman, on the other hand, has another plan for her grand-daughter’s future, and it involves lots of math and Macbook Pros. After some mild action and pounding of hands on walls, a lengthy legal battle ensues for good portion of the movie.
Mary, the first grader, steals the show, as the other seasoned characters, Frank, Evelyn, and Mary’s annoyingly clingy teacher, fall flat. Her spunk and confidence makes you feel for her. Though she may be ten years younger than you, she is seven years ahead of you in math, and better than you in every way.
Although the cute one-liners from a first grader in a 30 year-old mathematician’s body will keep you awake, some parts such as an extensive legal battle, walks through an empty city park and the constant repairing of boats, might make you want to fall asleep in your theatre chair.
With a 7.7/10 on IMDb and a 65% on Rotten Tomatoes, viewers characterize it as a “solid” and “straightforward” film, while some claim it is just an “emotional tear jerker” and “nothing more”. Grossing around $4 million in box office revenue domestically, it could have done much better, with a production cost of $7 million.
“Gifted’ is a sweet, sentimental movie to watch with your parents or when you want to bawl your eyes out for a solid 20 minutes, but its beachy settings and smooth guitar solos seem out of place with the constant mathematical jargon that bombard your ears for two hours.
The ending is a little forced, but leaves you satisfied for the most part. In the end, you will leave feeling a little smarter, learning about new court room techniques and lingo, or just a little bit dumber, knowing that anything you can do, a 6- year-old can do better.
Commentaries are the expressed opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect that of The Fourcast staff, its adviser or any member of the Hockaday community.
– Paige Halverson – Castoff Editor
