News Flash: Enchanted, Sleepless in Seattle & Pretty Woman lack realism

Rating: 8/10 (3 December 2007)

Nailing a fable/fantasy for being unrealistic is like fishing with a stick of dynamite. Sooooo easy but why bother when one need only read IMDb reviews BEFORE buying a ticket. August Rush is above all else an urban fairy tale where the audience is expected to believe that dreams do come true. The film was neither made to please professional musicians nor match the literal progress of Mozart's youthful genius. The term 'suspend one's belief' system is meant to apply to a fable/fantasy such as August. It allows viewers to enter an alternate universe where all can believe in miracles. A magical, musical universe where our usual rules do not apply. A place where music literally fills the air at all times in all ways. The film is refreshingly original in that regard. The film also tosses us excellent performances by all three leading actors and a very well paced three track story meshing rock and classical music with the magic of a quest ridden prodigy. Robin Williams 'mean streets' Wizard fits perfectly into this parallel system of good and evil.
Bottom line: August Rush was three hanky ENTERTAINING on multiple levels. It does well to appreciate that such well crafted, heart warming, escapist entertainment is a major part of what good movie making is all about.
Reviewer Angie Errigo (Rotten Tomatoes) said it best noting that August Rush is "Unapologetically preposterous, but it is a (very sweet) fairy tale..." Well said Angie!