Rated: 14A
Starring: a sympathetic Willem Dafoe, a rag tag group of kids, a few seemingly down-and-out adults
Plot: Unbeknownst to many, a clutch of dilapidated hotels lie in the shadow cast by Disney World. Many call these hotels home – including a small group of kids who learn to survive and even enjoy themselves while living along the margins of society.
Tanya’s Verdict: There is plenty of heartbreak within this film – but there is also inspiration, compassion and even a few laughs. Willem Dafoe is Bobby the hotel manager who while gruff and crabby at times, truly cares for his tenants and their children. Main character Moonee is a mischievous six-year-old girl who subsists on the flawed love of her childlike mother Halley as well as her own precocious instincts. These three characters come alive and tell a story that is anything but disappointing. I loved this movie.