Dear Frankie

I first heard of this film when I rented another video, and Dear Frankie was in the previews. I looked in my local newspaper to see when it would be coming out but after a few months, I gave up. Then the day of my birthday as I was skimming through the Today section of my newspaper, I saw an add for it. So I went to go see it with my mother. I can honestly say, it is one of the best movies that I've seen. The characters are down to earth and can easily be related to. The set was not distorted by any Hollywood gimics, rather, it looked like any small town in Scotland. The storyline was not overly sappy. It had exactly the right amount of all of the elements which make a good movie. The acting was superb. It's one of those films that you just fall in love with and want to watch over and over again.

I don't understand why I didn't watch "Dear Frankie" before. I have no idea why there is no more hype surrounding this movie, despite the fact that it is OUTSTANDINGLY GOOD. Truth be told, I only watched it yesterday because one friend recommended it to me...

If you are in doubt whether to see this film or not, please take my advice and don't miss it. "Dear Frankie" is entertaining, touching, and has remarkably good actors. Also, the Scottish scenery where the story develops is extremely beautiful, probably even more so for someone that isn't familiar with it, like me. What is more, the film has a great ending, that with leave you with a smile on your face and wishing for a sequel. Finally, and as an extra bonus for all the women reading this, it has Gerard Butler as part of the cast. Butler is an excellent actor who happens to be extremely handsome and my new favourite leading man :)

I believe that Shona Auerbach, the director of this film, deserves congratulations on a wonderful movie, that is part drama and part comedy at times. The whole cast consists of wonderful actors that really become the characters they are playing, conveying what they are supposed to be feeling so clearly that it impossible not to be trapped by the story after the first few minutes.

The plot of this film isn't overly complicated. Lizzie Morrison (Emily Mortimer) abandoned her abusive husband years ago, taking her little son with her. Lizzie lives with her son Frankie (Jack McElhone) and her mother (Mary Riggans) in a Scottish city near the sea. Frankie is deaf, and as he grows up, he wants to know more about the father he doesn't remember. As a result, his mother makes up a whole new personality for Frankie's father, and tells her son that his father is a sailor, visiting exotic places in the ship Accra. Frankie begins to write letters to his "father", and his mother answers them, trying to protect Frankie from the truth of what and who his father really is.

But one day, when Frankie is nine, another kid tells him that the Accra is going to visit the city, and bets Frankie that his father won't drop by to visit him. When Lizzie finds out about that, she has no better idea that to hire someone, a stranger "with no past and no future", to play Frankie's dad. Thanks to the help of her friend Marie (Sharon Small), she finds someone that seems good enough, a stranger (Gerard Butler) that will only be in town for two days. What will happen? Well, if you are really interested, watch this film.

All in all, I highly recommend "Dear Frankie" to you, unless who hate films that aren't full of action, or cannot stand the melodious Scottish accent. Personally, I don't mind the lack of fast-paced action if the story is good enough (and in this case it is), and I find the Scottish brogue enchanting. I sincerely think that most of you will not only like, but love this movie. Enjoy it!

Belen Alcat

I knew when I first saw the previews for this film that it would be great; or at least I hoped it would be. I am thrilled to say that I was right. Emily Mortimer has always been seen as a substantial actress and Sharon Small has been very good in the handful of films I've seen her in, but Gerry Butler really needed to prove that he has the makings of a great actor. Personally I knew he could do it (although reign of fire and Dracula 2000 proved otherwise)and I'm absolutely thrilled that he proved his might with such a touching role. I realize that many people will see this as "Frankie's" film, but I believe that the adult roles give this film the power, as they are the one's holding in some painful histories while trying to maintain their every-day lives while protecting Frankie. I never thought I'd ever say that I would love to see a sequel; something that shows how their lives have changed after the fact...FANTASTIC!