Having been aware of the movie for almost two years and following it's progress - as well as having some inside scoop on the plot - I had been eagerly awaiting this film's release. I can say that the movie lived up to my expectations, and more.

You can read the plot above, so I won't rehash it here, but I will say that this wonderful family film is a combination coming-of-age and buddy / road trip story of three 12-year-old boys who run away from baseball camp to find some elusive truths. When they finally learn what they've been seeking, it's almost too much for two of the friends to bear.

The three boys are wonderfully portrayed by Soren Fulton (Joe), Sam Semenza (Chris) and Matt Borish (Tiger), and the boys are very convincing in their roles. I never "caught them acting." Having seen Soren act before (A Ring of Endless Light and Thunderbirds) I had an idea of the performance he can deliver, and was impressed with his portrayal of Joe. Sam did a great job in the role of the token chubby kid who gets no respect from his mates, and provides the comic relief. But it was Matt's performance as Tiger that was particularly astounding. As Tiger, he was the risk-taker, the go-getter, and the kid in the group who showed the least fear. And he had the toughest role, emotionally, to pull off. Together he and Soren provided the performances that were needed for the chemistry between the two best friends to develop, until it was strained to the point of snapping in the gripping and emotional conclusion. Hats off to Matt, Soren and Sam for making it real.

The soundtrack is brilliant and adds to the film's pace and feeling. The DVD extras are fun to watch, with Soren and Matt given plenty of behind-the-scenes time as well as some great interviews about their roles, characters and the story. Overall, this movie is highly recommended. - Young Star News

Originally reviewed at www.youngstarnews.com