6.7 Well thought out heart-warming story, small amount of Jacks character shown.

Rating: 6/10 (14 April 2020)

This is a genuinely feel good movie, the book was incredible in my opinion, but I guess it was harder to show emotions in the movie. A lot was changed from the book, and a few character names were changed as well, which annoyed me, especially since Donaghoe became the screenwriter. After the rescue, Jack becomes a quiet, respectful kid, without too much personality who mainly talks through his mom. In the book, he is separated from his ma for a week or so where he struggles a bit to make sense of everything in this big, new, scary world, and has some problems with his grandma. I feel like including this break from his Ma, would have been a productive dive into his character. Jack is shown by himself for a bit during Ma's suicide attempt, but the only deeper analysis we get is a 10s or so phone call where Jack asks Ma "Why'd you try to go to Heaven early?" and drops the phone. Ma has a decently shown character, she is seen arguing a bit with he mother and father, but seems a lot angrier at everything in the book including the interviewer. I also don't think she had enough dialogue, like when she met her mother and father (contrary to the book), she didn't say a thing, and Jacks grandfather wasn't shown to hate the thought of Jack very clearly. In the book, even Jack knew that Ma's dad didn't think he should of been born, under the circumstances, which was a realistic plot line that could have gone into a bit more depth. I don't, I guess this follows the 'book is a lot better' category in my opinion. I also think there's many Criminal Mind episodes that dive deeper into character than Room if I'm being brutally honest. (I'd give a 6.7 or so, don't know how to go into decimals on the stars)