Little Manhattan

by debbie lynn elias

First love. Something so sweetly innocent yet perhaps even more glorious and magnificent than one's last love. And something that causes the rules between elementary school aged boys and girls to change forever.

10 year old Gabe has the perfect life - sports, video games and hanging out with his guy friends. Girls? Who needs 'em. Well, let's think this through again - especially where classmate Rosemary Telesco is involved. Thanks to a summer karate program, the two find themselves keeping company together on an almost daily basis. Enjoying the time he spends with her, Gabe soon realizes that girls really aren't that "icky" - at least when it comes to one particular girl - and he soon finds his entire world turned upside down when Rosemary goes from being just someone to hang out with to being " a girl." Like Freddy Bartholomew in "My Fair Lady", Gabe is overjoyed just to be on the street where Rosemary lives; staring at the building; looking for lights to come on or shades to open; just so he can catch a glimpse of his own fair lady.

Overcome with the futility of his efforts, frustration turns to pubescent embarrassment when Gabe goes to leave his watchful post only to crash into Rosemary and her nanny. In a most gallant maneuver, Gabe quickly regains his composure and offers to escort Rosemary to Central Park where their courtship finally takes on a life of its own; or as Gabe puts it, something he wouldn't wish on his own worst enemy. As Gabe and Rosemary experience the highs and lows of relationship heaven and hell, Gabe soon finds himself faced with his biggest dilemma yet - telling Rosemary how he really feels about her before she leaves for camp for the remainder of the summer. From the trepidation of that first kiss to holding hands for the first time, every element of their story is like magic. Josh Hutcherson stars as Gabe and what a star performance he gives. With the fate of the film resting largely on his shoulders, Josh is one of the few young actors with a sense of timing, emotion and skill that is not learned, but rather comes from within. The maturity tinged innocence is captivating both through his facial and physical expressiveness as well as effective narration and vocal performance. His emotional honesty is both heartwarming and at times heartbreaking and carries the film from beginning to end. Newcomer Charlie Ray does more than hold her own as Rosemary to Hutcherson's Gabe. A natural, carefree elan pervades her performance making Rosemary as endearing as Gabe is nervously charming. Their chemistry together has a sweetness and believability that I would hope some filmmaker revisits in the future. Bradley Whitford and Cynthia Nixon are more than effective as Gabe's parents. Real people with real problems, they both bring an eye-opening clarity to the! ir characters and the perception and interpretation of the family unit.

A former producer of "The Wonder Years", director Mark Levin clearly has a sensitivity for the trials and tribulations of a fifth grader. Here, he wisely relies on the strength of the story and the characters to the carry the film, allowing the natural comedy and emotion of the human condition to flow rather than be forced through fixated plot devices. The attention to emotional and character detail is also due in large part to screenwriter Jennifer Flackett. With no stone left unturned, embarrassing and fearful moments are treated with as much unfettered honesty as the nervousness and sweaty palms of a young boy waiting for just a glimpse of his love. As you watch this story unfold, you'll find yourself recalling with fondness, or perhaps even a blush of the cheek, your own first love and all those lazy days of youth that seem so far away now.

One of the best romantic comedies of the year (for all ages), Mark Levin's capable intelligent direction gives us an intelligently mature and layered film with a beauty and freshness that transcends time, speaking to each of us with a gentle reminder of the simple joys of life and love.

Gabe: Josh Hutcherson Rosemary: Charlie Ray Adam: Bradley Whitford Leslie: Cynthia Nixon Directed by Mark Levin. Written by Jennifer Flackett. Rated PG. (84 min)

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