So overdone it's likable!

Rating: 6/10 (16 May 2008)

Like eating at a really good chain restaurant: Everything is brought to a state of formulaic perfection, yet after completion one continues to feel a hunger one realizes is a desire for a degree of genuineness in the experience. That, or the diabetic coma one receives from the sugary conclusion.
While recognizing that it is a fairy tale of sorts, it is still disconcerting to have some elements seem so implausible as to screw up even a fantasy of a wildly talented child music prodigy. E.g. His prodigious gift seems real when he first encounters a guitar and slaps music from within it, and builds his skills by what seems like the likely study of those around him playing as well. Much less believable, even to this non-musician is that August understands the concept and begins to produce written music after a very very brief introduction to the act by a little girl, yet he suddenly has a mastery of Western music notation unencumbered by what I would expect to be his own untutored embellishments a prodigy might produce in the act of self-exploration of such a skill. Similarly, he discovers and without any instruction begins playing a pipe organ with orthodox technique , yet demonstrates no innovative deviations one might expect from someone who had no preconceived notion regarding the "right" way to play the instrument.
These might seem like modest quibbles to lob at a fantasy, yet since it IS a fantasy, don't drag it down with unrealistic reality checks.
Worth watching, especially for some of the music, as long as the idea of being buried under cotton candy and baby bunnies doesn't disturb you. Rent it when you are depressed and need a massive injection of Feelgoodagain.