August Rush DVD Review

"August Rush" reviews

DVD

August Rush

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2008-03-17 18:03:42

Provider

DVD Review

Charlie And The Chocolate Factory star Freddie Highmore stars as the product of a passionate and romantic fling between a young cellist Lyla (Keri Russell) and Irish guitarist Louis (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) in what’s essentially a modern fairytale.

Young August has inherited his parents’ musical talent but, due to circumstance, is orphaned. He encounters a mysterious Fagin-like character called Wizard (Robin Williams), who gives him shelter while his prodigious talent is taken to the streets of New York, where he hopes to find his parents.

Meanwhile, his mum Lyla, who was conned by her manipulative father into believing her child was dead, has discovered he's alive and is desperately searching for him, while Louis has abandoned his own promising career as a budding rocker to look for Lyla.

In most films the music is an important factor, signposting emotions whether or not the viewer is aware. It’s blatantly the case here with the Hans Zimmer/Mark Mancina soundtrack being key – in places more so than the dialogue.

A sweet, old fashioned fable, all in all.