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Haley Joel Osment, Kevin Spacey (2000, Warner, 123 mins., PG-13, also on DVD)

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Rated: PG-13; Genres: Drama, Romance; With: Helen Hunt, Haley Joel Osment and Kevin Spacey

By Caren Weiner Campbell

With its A-list cast (two Oscar winners and a nominee) and New Agey concept, this romantic drama about an altruistic seventh grader, his floozy mom (Helen Hunt), and his scarred teacher stirred up several hives' worth of prerelease buzz -- then got stung by critics and audiences. But on the boob tube, land of the TV movie, its melodramatic lapses seem less glaring; instead, the actors shine, and you get a glimpse of the small, affecting movie this would-be hit could have been. B

Posted May 18, 2001

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