This quirky movie details the odd friendship between an odd 10-year-old girl, Devon, and a impoverished lawn care guy, Trent, who works in the girl's wealth neighborhood. The fairytale frame it begins with is fascinating, it has many notable moments, and Mischa Barton is wonderful as Devon.
At the same time it feels a bit wobbly. Trent will resist Devon's nutty ideas but then switch 180 and go with them way too far. Some characters are finely drawn, but others, like Devon's parents, feel like cardboard cutouts there to make a point. The movie isn't quite sure how much of it should be a satire of the American wealth-class system and how much should be a child's-eye view pseudo-fantasy, and the result is you're never quite sure what it is from one moment to the next.
It's a very strange movie, and if you like weird movies I'd recommend checking it out, but it could have been better.
At the same time it feels a bit wobbly. Trent will resist Devon's nutty ideas but then switch 180 and go with them way too far. Some characters are finely drawn, but others, like Devon's parents, feel like cardboard cutouts there to make a point. The movie isn't quite sure how much of it should be a satire of the American wealth-class system and how much should be a child's-eye view pseudo-fantasy, and the result is you're never quite sure what it is from one moment to the next.
It's a very strange movie, and if you like weird movies I'd recommend checking it out, but it could have been better.