We live in dire times now, so it’s often difficult to find a positive lifeline. Maybe that’s why on March 23rd multiplexes in 20 cities opened their doors to screen Little Boy in every one of their theatres -- with support from celebrities, business leaders, sports stars, and others. “We’re excited to see this level of excitement around the movie,” said Elliot Slutzky, EVP of Distribution at Open Road Films. 

A dramedy set during a time of war,  the story takes place in the fictional California coastal town of O’Hare where Pepper (Jakob Salvati) is born. James (Michael Rapaport), Pepper’s father, nicknames him Little Boy. Year after year they measure his height, but Pepper’s growth is slow, and he’s constantly bullied by other boys.

Fortunately, James smothers his son with love, mentors him about his possibilities, and inspires him to have imagination. Soon Pepper starts mimicking his comic-book hero, the crime-fighting magician Ben Eagle.

Pepper’s sweet life soon derails when his dad goes to fight in WWII to replace Pepper’s older brother, London (David Henrie), who has flat feet. That leaves Mom (Emily Watson) to handle London’s angry behavior as well as Pepper’s broken heart and abuse from bullies.

Seeing other kids make fun of Pepper when he puts his hands out and growls as he mimics doing impossible deeds that Ben Eagle could do, two mentors decide to guide him. One of these mentors is Father Crispin (Eduardo Verástegui/Bella), the junior parish priest, who feels a kinship with Pepper.

“In a profound way, it feels like it’s my story,” Verástegui said. “Like Little Boy, I am from a very small town. I was younger and smaller than my classmates, so they picked on me. I was always running away from guys I was afraid of. At the same time, Little Boy never gives up. He is a dreamer, and so am I. I left my hometown when I was 14, always trying to move my own mountain. I’m sure many other people will see themselves in him.”

Pepper is also befriended by the town priest (Tom Wilkinson). Positive that he can bring his father back from the war alive by using his Ben Eagle abilities, Pepper becomes relentless in his antics around town. When the priest gives him a mustard seed, he repeats the Bible verse, “For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

When Pepper is challenged about his abilities, he claims he will move a mountain, and the entire town gathers around to watch. The priest also introduces Pepper to Mr. Hashimoto (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa), an elderly Japanese man back in O’Hare after being released from an internment camp. At first, their relationship appears reserved, for the town kids, and especially London, see Hashimoto as the enemy and the reason their fathers are off to war.

Salvati -- who has roles on many TV shows – is superb as Pepper. Nearly 1,000 boys were seen for the role, and Salvati was only there with his brother who was auditioning.  But after connecting with director Alejandro Monteverde, Salvati got the part. This youngster is fun, charming, and believable here. He can bring almost everyone in the theatre to tears.

Although Rapaport’s camera time is brief, he projects the father’s deep love for his son, which leaves Pepper flustered without him. Wilkinson also delivers a strong performance as the priest who tells Pepper, “It takes courage to believe the impossible; your father would be proud of you.”

Hashimoto (well portrayed by Tagawa) doesn’t warm up to Pepper right off, but he too helps the boy to be strong in facing challenges.

Immediately believable as Emma, Watson convinces us about the mother’s conflict over her son’s passionate belief that he can make his father come home because of his special powers. “She’s caught between supporting him and his faith and the terrible reality of what war is,” Watson said. “But Jakob makes you root for him. He is a force of nature. He’s a brilliant actor. He stumbles into things because he’s just a kid and it’s often completely amazing.”

Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, producers of Son of God, The Bible, A.D., Survivor, and many other shows, are executive producers of Little Boy.

Verástegui calls Little Boy a “fairy tale for adults” seen through the eyes of an extraordinary child. I’m not sure what film most of the critics who are trashing Little Boy saw, but it may be that faith, hope or inspiration scare them. Among the 100+ viewers who saw this movie in two theaters the night I attended, there were only raves about how good it was.  

I think we can take all the goodness, hope and inspiration that’s out there these days. Little Boy provides that for people of any age.

(Released by Open Road Films and rated "PG-13" for some thematic material including violence.)

Review also posted at www.reviewexpress.com.