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Gifted
STARRING: Chris Evans, Mckenna Grace, Lindsay Duncan
DIRECTOR: Marc Webb
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG-15
RUNNING TIME: 101 minutes
Superheroes are far removed in Gifted, despite the presence of Captain America star Chris Evans and director Marc Webb, who rebooted the Spider-Man franchise with Andrew Garfield.
This collaboration is on a different scale: the story of a seven-year-old child prodigy named Mary (Mckenna Grace) is the sort of feel-good drama studios make less and less often nowadays.
Set in a Florida coastal town, the story follows Frank (Evans), a boat repairman and Mary’s uncle, who becomes her guardian after her bright-spark mother commits suicide. Frank wants Mary to live a normal life, as per his sister’s wishes, but when her teacher Bonnie (Jenny Slate) realises that she is a maths genius, it sets a chain of events in motion.
Thrown into the mix are Octavia Spencer, as Frank’s kindly neighbour, and British actress Lindsay Duncan, as Frank’s mother, desperate to see her granddaughter realise her potential. Understandably, there’s a big emotional tug-of-war going on, and sparks fly between Frank and Bonnie. None of it will surprise you, but Webb is competent enough to keep you engaged.
There’s nothing particularly ground-breaking here. A tale of an orphan fighting against the odds to achieve success and find a place in life is a staple of Hollywood cinema, as is the question of how best to care for a prodigious talent.
A low score for originality, then, but the film avoids straying too far into derivative territory, largely thanks to the convincing performances. Evans, who really can act when he’s not wearing Spandex, is credible as the hunky singleton surrogate parent, although it’s the newcomer Grace who steals the show.
The bond between the unlikely partners in crime is also convincing as they form a united front against Duncan’s slightly two-dimensional, Cruella DeVille-esque grandmother.
Jenny Slater delivers a solid-enough performance as Mary’s teacher who recognises her talents but is not best-placed to act in her best interests, lacking as she does deeper knowledge of the family history.
That said, the film really revolves around the engaging relationship between uncle and niece, and the custody battle that ensues when Evelyn gets her claws into the youngster.
The recurring question of what is really best for a remarkable child like Mary, and who is in a position to even begin to answer that question, is one that will stick with you after the credits roll.
However, the writers were unable to resist the temptation of milking moments for maximum emotional impact, to the point where you can almost see a good movie drowning under the thickest of sap. Reaction shots to precious wisdom literally coming from the mouth of babies are tenfold. Reunion scenes will drag those teardrops out of your eyes or die trying and everything boils down to an emotive conclusion.
Overall, Gifted is a little trite, deliberately plucking your heartstrings (there’s even a one-eyed cat to gain sympathy). It’s predictable but pleasurable enough, an inoffensive charmer that doesn’t outstay its welcome.
Showing in: Novo, Cineco, Seef II, Saar, Wadi Al Sail, Mukta A2
Rating: 3/5
