Sappy? Yeah, I guess at times… but this also mostly earns its big heart, and treats early teens with more far dignity and insight than most films. Lucy Deakins is terrific as an intelligent, thoughtful 14 year old, who slowly grows to care for the autistic boy next door. He doesn't speak, but dreams only of flying away, a condition brought on by the deaths of his parents in a plane crash years before. Now he's in the care of an alcoholic uncle (the always wonderful Fred Gwynne), and the powers that be think he might be better off being institutionalized. Almost all the acting is top notch, which is crucial in this character based story. Jay Underwood walks various fine lines as the titular boy, named Eric. By turns mysterious, locked in, charming he seems believable as an emotionally isolated adolescent as well as a possible source of magic. Colleen Dewhurst doesn't have a lot of screen time, but makes something rich and real out of a concerned teacher who doesn't want to see Eric locked away, knowing it will kill his spirit. And Bonnie Bedelia makes a touching warm and understanding widowed mom. There are some scenes where the comic relief is more than a little forced, and a sub-plot about a little brother taking on neighborhood bullies seems grafted on from a far more Disney-ish film. But this Capra-esque gentle, bittersweet fantasy is a great 1980s film for tweens even today, and not a bad one for adults as well.

I will not say this is an entirely bad film, just not a really good one. It kind of straddles the middle of good and bad thus proving to be a somewhat neutral film. It has some good stuff within, but I feel that the end kind of makes it all fall apart. The story has a family moving into a new home and the next door neighbor is in charge of taking care of this boy whose parents were killed in I believe a plane crash. Do not quote me on that though as it has been forever since I last saw this film. Well you find out the boy has problems, though I do not believe he would be sent to a mental institution as they are not free and I am betting he does not have the insurance to pay for it. Still, he has problems, though he goes to a normal school. So he is so mentally unstable that he is place in a mental institution, but he can attend a regular high school? Well the girl that lives next door and is part of the family that just moved in sort of bonds with said boy and thus you have their strange friendship developing for most of the film. You then have an unexplained end as they should have remained a bit more obscure, but who am I to argue how a filmmaker should end his/her movie. There is a nice subplot involving the brother of the girl trying to get around the block and take care of some bullies that was rather funny and more interesting at times than said flying story.

This is one of my favorite childhood films. The acting and story are so genuine. Looking at it now, as an adult, I can see many other technical things about it that really make this film stand out. The camera shots are amazingly well done; in some cases without cuts. Cleverly done, indeed. The music score is absolutely marvelous with complex use of the orchestra's wind section. Made in the day of mass electrification of music scores, this movie has a tasteful mix of electronic sounds.The supporting actors are so powerful in this film. They were more recognizable than the leads, but really help push the story forward with very realistic performances. A good supporting cast can make relatively unknown actors into stars. This is a formula that has worked for other really famous movies (anyone remember Star Wars?).We need more films like this. -Marcus

This movie is great. It takes you back when wishes and faith brought people a long way. There is no getting around it if you have never seen this movie you need to. This is a great movie for kids to watch compared to the movie choices that they have today, but yet is great movie for adults. This movie is an older movie but yet is the only movie that I can honestly say was great. no complaint or suggestions just great. Well written and directed the actors and actress's where great. This movie is one that should never be forgotten and I would love to see anther movie made that is like this. This movie should never leave your library of movies and if you do not own it you should there is no getting over it it was the best movie of my time and that is not very long but it always will be the best.