EW.com
The Black Balloon (2008)
EW's GRADE
B-Details Limited Release: Dec 05, 2008; Rated: PG-13; Length: 97 Minutes; Genre: Drama; With: Toni Collette
Toni Collette gives it the old Little Miss Sunshine try in The Black Balloon as an edge-of-kooky, very pregnant mama presiding over a chaotic household. But instead of a drolly drug-taking gramps, this Australian feel-good autism dramedy champions Charlie (Luke Ford), a sweet but seriously disruptive young man. Director and co-writer Elissa Down, who grew up with autistic siblings, hints at real exhaustion amid all her movie's Down Under jauntiness. Charlie's condition is particularly hard on his younger brother, Thomas (Rhys Wakefield), especially as he negotiates his first teenage romance, with a girl of dewy, supermodel beauty played by dewy supermodel Gemma Ward. B–
Featured Video
OscarWatch TV: 'Avatar' as underdog?
Dave Karger and Missy Schwartz on the rise of ''Hurt Locker,'' Sandra leapfrogging Meryl for Best Actress
More 
Today's Most Popular
-
Hollywood Insider 'Deadliest Catch' Captain Phil Harris has died -
-
-
Ken Tucker's TV The last 'Jay Leno Show': I watched it so you didn't have to -
EW's Special Coverage Totally 'Lost'
Special Coverage
Totally 'Lost'!
Get up to speed for the final season:
New theories and news from Doc Jensen, exclusive video, photos, trivia, and more
More
Add your comment
The rules: Keep it clean, and stay on the subject or we might delete your comment. If you see inappropriate language, e-mail us. An asterisk * indicates a required field.