Wizard-8 As one other IMDb user noted here, this is a movie that would most likely not be made today. It's lacking in cynical attitudes and razzle- dazzle flash. But being raised in the era that this movie was made, I could appreciate the movie's sweet and gentle tone. I also thought that the cast did a very good job in making their characters believable and sympathetic.Still, this movie is far from perfect. A big problem I had was with the movie's length - it is almost two hours long. Though it could have been worse, since there is evidence here that the original cut of the movie ran much longer and was whittled down in the editing room to its present length. (Evidence: the bullies that show up in the first few minutes of the movie subsequently disappear for more than an hour before showing up again.) Also, the movie seemed to be spinning its wheels over and over, with one scene after another advancing the plot little or not at all.This isn't a BAD movie - it has charm and warmth - but I think director/writer Nick Castle should have either reviewed his script a few more times before filming, or invited outside input to review the script.

cockneyrobin I was a teenager when this film first came out and never got round to seeing it back then.It was literally after reading a recommendation on an 80's website that i watched it this morning online and had to write a review.This film had me captivated from the beginning titles, right the way through to the closing credits. You cannot help but become engrossed in this film due to the quality of the cast and the soundtrack.I won't go into details about the plot of the film as other reviews have already covered that but all i will say is that i'm a 38 year old guy who doesn't lose control of his emotions often but i cried a hell of a lot at the final scene between the two lead characters.If you haven't seen this gem of a movie then don't wait as long as i did to get round to seeing it. You will fall in love with it, i guarantee that.

Aaron1375 I will not say this is an entirely bad film, just not a really good one. It kind of straddles the middle of good and bad thus proving to be a somewhat neutral film. It has some good stuff within, but I feel that the end kind of makes it all fall apart. The story has a family moving into a new home and the next door neighbor is in charge of taking care of this boy whose parents were killed in I believe a plane crash. Do not quote me on that though as it has been forever since I last saw this film. Well you find out the boy has problems, though I do not believe he would be sent to a mental institution as they are not free and I am betting he does not have the insurance to pay for it. Still, he has problems, though he goes to a normal school. So he is so mentally unstable that he is place in a mental institution, but he can attend a regular high school? Well the girl that lives next door and is part of the family that just moved in sort of bonds with said boy and thus you have their strange friendship developing for most of the film. You then have an unexplained end as they should have remained a bit more obscure, but who am I to argue how a filmmaker should end his/her movie. There is a nice subplot involving the brother of the girl trying to get around the block and take care of some bullies that was rather funny and more interesting at times than said flying story.

DAVID SIM The Boy Who Could Fly is a very underrated film from the 80s. A film that addressed the condition of autism long before Rain Man did (and much better too than that overrated Oscar winner). The tale of an autistic boy, Eric (Jay Underwood) who believes he can fly, and his neighbour Milly Michaelson (a sweetly appealing Lucy Deakins) who forms a friendship that blossoms into love.Eric has been autistic since his parents died in a plane crash when he was five. Ever since, he's imagined he can fly like a plane (possibly so he could save his parents), sitting on the windowsill of his bedroom or standing on the roof of his house, getting ready to take off. Eric is in danger of being institutionalised. He doesn't speak a word to anyone. Not even to his own uncle Hugo (amusingly played by the late Fred Gwynne), who cares for Eric, and drinks more than he should.Milly has just moved in next door with her widowed mother Charlene (another fine performance from Bonnie Bedelia) and her brother Louis (a groan inducing Fred Savage). She becomes fascinated with Eric, and cares for him a great deal. She's not sure if she believes Hugo's stories that Eric can really fly, but when she falls from an overpass, and somehow survives, she slowly convinces herself Eric has the gift of flight.I really did enjoy The Boy Who Could Fly. There's a wonderful simplicity to its storytelling, and thanks to director Nick Castle's confident and assured grasp of narrative, its a rewarding experience. Sadly, Castle never really distinguished himself in the following 90s with anything particularly worthwhile. Only this film, and his previous venture, The Last Starfighter (an equally underrated film) are films that really stand out.Castle finds just the right tone and sense of whimsy. In some ways, its almost a Spielbergian story. But it hardly ever lapses into slush and over-sentimentality. I could have done without Fred Savage's unnecessary subplot about finding the courage to ride around the block on his bike, and the ending does somewhat surrender itself to full blown fantasy, but up until then, TBWCF seldom puts a foot wrong.Really, the only problem I have with the film is when it outright embraces the fantastical. When I saw TBWCF for the first time, I assumed Eric's desire of flight was a metaphor for freedom. That on the outside he's cut off from everybody. But on the inside, his mind is free and perfectly clear. In fact, if the film had stayed true to those conceits, I probably would have gave it 10/10.But unfortunately, TBWCF chooses to stray too closely to fantasy. Midway, there is a scene when we see Milly flying with Eric. Now that scene in of itself works quite well. It seems very magical (although the moment they kiss in a background of a fireworks display is overdoing it) and hits an uplifting note, but when its revealed to just be a dream, I liked the ambiguity to it. It adds an air of mystery that permeates the film.Its just unfortunate that for all the deft direction Castle displays beforehand, he chooses to cop out with an ending that's pure escapism. If the climax had some of the same mystery the rest of the film had, it would have made Eric's departure even more powerful.But still, TBWCF has much to recommend it. The performances are uniformly excellent. Lucy Deakins is a wonderful young actress. She has charm, grace and a genuine sense of sweetness. What a shame she hasn't gone on to the acting career she richly deserves. And Jay Underwood is a master of minimalism. He communicates volumes of frustration and pain without ever having to open his mouth.Its in their relationship the film soars. You really feel their love and affection for each other, and Castle handles it all with a light but expert touch. The fantastical elements aside, the way it addresses autism is done with a refreshing and unpatronising maturity. At least you don't get Eric screaming his head off with fists flying like Dustin Hoffman's embarrassing performance in Rain Man. The Boy Who Could Fly is a far superior film.Another of the 80s many hidden treasures.