The Book of Henry Will Tug On Your Heart Strings

Jaeden Lieberher, Jacob Tremblay

The Book of Henry, is well cast and brings out some interesting morality questions. We see the first part of this film through Henry’s ( the fabulous Jaeden Lieberher) eyes. This  11-year-old genius discovers his next door crush, a young ballet dancer named Christina (Maddie Ziegler), is being abused by her stepfather Glenn (Dean Norris). Henry first tries the normal routes, but Glenn is too well connected and know his way around the system. Henry then tries a different approach and details his plans in a book. You see Henry who is a math genius, doing his mom’s taxes and keeping the family finically together, has a brain tumor. When he dies he enlists his little brother Peter (the adorable Jacob Tremblay), to tell his mom where the book is. Susan (Naomi Watts) is a diner waitress raising her two boys, all alone, yet they live in a a beautiful Victorian home. She parties with her alcholic best friend and fellow waitress Sarah Silverman who is a dead ringer for Amy Winehouse. The book has step-by-step instructions in how to murder Glenn with rifle from their sophisticated tree house. Susan never think that heading to the local gun shop to kill her neighbor is out of place.

Maddie Ziegler

Written by novelist Gregg Hurwitz, the film just seems structurally unreasonable and not at all like people in real life. Each moment seems contrived, though you will care about these people. This is an important subject but it skirts away from it in order to be more theatrical.

Dean Norris, Naomi Watts

Michael Giacchino’s thrilling score is so well done that you will have an emotional tug at your heart, though it will feel manipulated.

Colin Trevorrow direction seems more like Jurassic World or his next project Star Wars: Episode IX, but the script does not support this kind of touch.

Naomi Watts and the two kids are fabulous. If you are trying to stay cool or out of the rain there could be worse ways.

The Book of Henry, Director Colin Trevorrow. Stars Naomi Watts, Jaeden Lieberher, Jacob Tremblay, Sarah Silverman, Dean Norris