Does not trivialise teen romance/angst

Rating: 9/10 (3 May 2014)

I thought this was going to be another sad story with a happy ending about a sappy teen romance with clichéd angst, so I didn't watch this till almost 2 years later.
I am surprised at the depth of the movie though. A boy meets a girl at a show, they exchange letters about their respective problems, try to guide each other because they had no one else who could help guide and help them, and in the process fall in love. They run away, get caught, then run away again, get caught again. In that process, the people around them learn more about them, and learn to care about them more. The details of the 2 children's, especially the boy's, and the couple's daring actions, move people (including previously hostile scout mates) to help them find a solution, in different ways, to their problem of wanting to be together but being forced apart.
The seasoned pros Willis, Norton, Murray and McDormand put on a great performance, but the child leads, especially Jared Gilman, impressed me the most. The acting may not be perfect but it was good, and considering his age, he conveyed the emotions needed better than expected.
This may not be a movie that appeals to families, but I think it teaches the families that watch it one thing: communication and understanding. And again, the fact that this movie does not trivialise teen angst issues (eg, "we've all been there before, it will pass", etc) puts it several notches above similar films in the same genre.
Definitely recommended for watching on a lazy weekend afternoon.