Chelsom captures that sensation perfectly, then dispels it, as the pain of exclusion gives way to the warmth of inclusion. Friendships between children are often far more profound than those between adults, and The Mighty explores how this is so. The film is also a salute to the power of imagination and creativity. Kevin introduces Max to his magical world of the mind, and soon both boys are employing it as a refuge. They do not use it as a means of denying reality, but as a way to help them struggle through the most difficult times.
Solid performances abound, regardless of whether the role is large or small.
Considering the physical limitations placed upon Kevin, Culkin is especially effective. Some big-name actors ably fill supporting parts. Gena Rowlands and Harry Dean Stanton play Max's grandparents, Gran and Grim. James Gandolfini is Max's long-lost father. Gillian Anderson is almost unrecognizable as a drunken housewife.