It was far too stretched out. Like in breaking point elastic.

An irritating factor at the beginning (and this is one of my pet peeves) is that the blue eyed boy becomes a brown-eyed teenager/adult. This might be nit-picking to some but it jerks me right out of the film.

The scenes with the train were way overplayed, We get it Steven. Truly.

The film is more about the mother than her son. And their dynamic didn't feel real either. She had three other children and there is virtually nothing of her interactions with them.

I am a huge admirer of SS and his films but this is, I hate to say this, cringe worthy. That scene where the bully follows him to the locker room is unbelievable. No thick bully would have that kind of insight into his own behaviour.

I get the fifties vibe, the Beach Blanket Bingo of that era, But it was all over the place and the focus was not consistent.

Self indulgent pap.

5/10. I am being generous.