When what looks to be a film's strongest point abruptly disappears towards the end of the first act, it can only hope to be so enjoyable. This is the case for the quasi-inspirational and very family-friendly Will; the story of an orphan boy (Perry Eggleton) hell bent on honouring his father's (Homeland's Damian Lewis) dying wish by travelling from England to Istanbul in time to watch his beloved Liverpool compete in the 2005 Champions League Final.
The story of a determined child thriving in an open and dangerous world is likely to appease the kiddies, but the film contains little additional stimulation, bogged down by contrived storytelling, unnatural dialogue and painstaking predictability.
Lewis rises above a lame duck of a script and puts the team on his back with a man-of-the-match performance as Will's father. Disappointingly- and to make his son's journey that much more poignant- he is killed off right out of left field courtesy of a brain haemorrhage. The melodramatic sloppiness of that scene foreshadows what is to come, as the rest of the film plays out as a muddled combination of unrealistic highs and crushingly depressing lows, none of which manage to suspend disbelief long enough to warrant recommendation. A simple film at heart, Will proves ironically challenging for anyone over twelve, football fan or not.
*There's nothing I love more than a bit of feedback, good or bad. So drop me a line on jnatsis@iprimus.com.au and let me know what you thought of my review. If you're looking for a writer for your movie website or other publication, I'd also love to hear from you.*
The story of a determined child thriving in an open and dangerous world is likely to appease the kiddies, but the film contains little additional stimulation, bogged down by contrived storytelling, unnatural dialogue and painstaking predictability.
Lewis rises above a lame duck of a script and puts the team on his back with a man-of-the-match performance as Will's father. Disappointingly- and to make his son's journey that much more poignant- he is killed off right out of left field courtesy of a brain haemorrhage. The melodramatic sloppiness of that scene foreshadows what is to come, as the rest of the film plays out as a muddled combination of unrealistic highs and crushingly depressing lows, none of which manage to suspend disbelief long enough to warrant recommendation. A simple film at heart, Will proves ironically challenging for anyone over twelve, football fan or not.
*There's nothing I love more than a bit of feedback, good or bad. So drop me a line on jnatsis@iprimus.com.au and let me know what you thought of my review. If you're looking for a writer for your movie website or other publication, I'd also love to hear from you.*