Little Manhattan

Plot synopsis:
10-year-old Gabe meets an 11-year-old girl in his grade, Rosemary, who he's known since kindergarten. But after being partnered with her for sparring in self-defense class, he suddenly notices her as a girl, not another face. To Gabe's elation, they begin spending time together and he is completely enamored with not only her, but her life. He takes her on a tour through Central Park, and another day they venture for fun across the city and use their self-defense skills to fight a bully named Daryl Kitzens and try to inspect an apartment for rent, worrying his nervous parents. He discovers that Rosemary is soon leaving for camp for six weeks and won't be back until summer's end and her parents are planning to enroll her in a private school. She lives with her loving upper-class parents, and on the edge of Central Park. Rosemary's parents take him and Rosemary to hear a jazz pianist at The Carlyle, where the young twosome finally hold hands. After the show, Rosemary's parents tell them to say goodnight and her parents go to get milk. After the parents leave, Gabe and Rosemary begin talking, and he interrupts her by kissing her. His daily exploits are followed and encouraged by the friendly concierge at his building.
Rosemary's family's life is in contrast to Gabe's; he lives with his soon-to-be-divorcing parents, who have declared an awkward truce while waiting for their divorce to be finalized. As their relationship progresses, Gabe begins to question what is happening to him and why he is falling in love with Rosemary. When things seem to be going perfectly, Gabe's world is suddenly turned upside down when he and Rosemary are assigned new sparring partners. Gabe is instantly jealous of Rosemary's new partner: a taller blonde boy named Tim Staples, who's much better at self-defense than he is. With their remaining time running out, Gabe tries to move closer to Rosemary, but only drives her away. In a desperate move to win Rosemary back, Gabe attempts to show off for Rosemary, but painfully fractures his hand in the process.
Being crushed with what love really is, he learns from his father that the parents' marriage fell apart because of things left unsaid. Realizing he is out of time, Gabe goes to find Rosemary. He interrupts her during the wedding reception she is attending and declares his love. Taken aback, Rosemary replies she doesn't think she is ready for love, but is really happy to see Gabe. She asks for a dance and Gabe agrees. As they dance, Gabe muses that he and Rosemary were on different paths — "like two ships that passed in Sheep Meadow". He returns home to find his parents laughing over their honeymoon recollections. Gabe is pleased and surprised when his father says he "cleared out some old stuff" and his parents appear to have reconciled. They happily go out for dinner, and as the movie ends, Gabe, narrating, summarizes what Rosemary meant to him: "...I'm never gonna get another first love. That one's always gonna be her."

Tags: romantic, comedy, flashback

Review:
I can remember times in my life where I had the same feelings as Gabe and the same fears about acting on them.The performances by the two young stars are very good, while neither of these children may have the talent of Haley Joel Osment or Dakota Fanning (although many recent Academy Award winners do not have the acting chops of Miss Fanning).
These are two truly likable you actors and I look forward to seeing them in future endeavors.This film does not break any new ground in telling a love story, but where it is innovative is in approaching the subject both from the perspective of children, and more specifically, focusing on this from specifically the boys point of view.
This is the first time I saw a movie that makes me want to visit New York.With all of the mean spirited movies out today this reminds of how nice it is to enjoy a good story.
It is a great joy to watch this awkward stage played out so well, on film, in this love story for all ages.
It tells the story of an adorable 10-year-old boy named Gabe whose parents are divorcing, but under New York law they must remain living together until the divorce is final.
It tells a sweet story about innocence and romance which is applicable to all of us despite using 11 year-old kids (Josh Hutcherson, a "veteran" and Charlie Rose, a newcomer) as its main players...This film will remind many of you of "The Wonder Years", which of course isn't a bad thing (Wouldn't you say that was GREAT television??).
There is a nice parallel in the story in that while the main character is falling in love, his own parents are falling out of it and headed for the splits.Mark Levin (Wimbledon, and yes...The Wonder Years) turns in another solid effort and shows he is anything but complacent - He gets great work out of his actors and the cinematography makes Manhattan a sparkling place for all.
In Manhattan, the 10 ¾ years old Gabe (Josh Hutcherson) finds his first love when he meets his former kindergarten mate, the eleven years old Rosemary (Charlie Ray), in his karate classes.
Confused with his new feelings and with the divorce process of his beloved parents, Leslie (Cynthia Nixon) and Adam (Bradley Whitford), he experiences the delightful unknown sensation of being in love for the first time.When my friends from the best rental in Rio de Janeiro recommended this movie, I was quite reluctant to buy it.
While married couple, and ex-New Yorkers, writer Jennifer Flackett and director Marc Levin formerly worked on "Wonder Years," and borrow several of those techniques, the bit too wise and nostalgic voice-over narration seems to be coming contemporaneously from the sympathetic Josh Hutcherson as almost 11 year old "Gabe." The object of his attention, Charlie Ray's very self-possessed "Rosemary," seems straight out of "Mad Hot Ballroom," which featured real life kids of the same age discussing similar issues as these kids do about the maturity levels of boys and girls.
(I remember my sons coming home with accounts of similar descriptions of classmate's apartments in comparison with our crowded digs.)There's lots of "Ally McBeal"-type fantasy/over-active imagination elements, from funny uses of the very NYC streetscape like concert posters and theater marquees, so I had to chalk a bit up to similar fantasy that even sophisticated, "New Yorker"-reading, West End Avenue parents distracted by divorce, at least not as much as the oblivious mother in "E.T.", would let a fifth grader have the run of nine square blocks on his razor scooter (I didn't let my kids going to school in Manhattan loose until into 7th grade).
Cynthia Nixon is a believable mom with no stereotyped ticks.We've come a long way in New York City since those same benches on the Broadway malls were shown so frighteningly in "The Panic in Needle Park." With the great bulk of Hollywood movies about kids of this age taking place in seemingly anonymous suburbs or bucolic exurbs where everyone lives in McMansions with SUVs, and indie films focusing on dysfunctional or otherwise deprived families, it is a pleasure to see such a sweet film about normal,yeah, middle class, city kids.But you don't have to have been a city kid to remember that first crush and this charming film will bring all those euphoric feelings and embarrassing memories rushing back to adult viewers.
Remembering my own youth, growing up and discovering girls for the first time, I was able to relive some of those moments, some funny, some agonizing, all right on.Josh Hutcheson and Charlie Ray both did an outstanding job portraying the (sometimes) pain of growing up -- the sweaty palms, the horror of not knowing what to say, or saying it and being afraid of sounding so stupid.
i hope this does well it was great i really like it i want to meet the makers, the camera work was awesome, everyone should see it the actors were amazing, new york is so romantic, i could relate to the boy, i love scooters, i love karate i love everything to do with this movie!
I have seen this movie twice, probably the third romantic movie that compelled me to do that, and the reasons are quite simple: It's probably impossible that anyone can't relate to young Josh Hutcherson character, a 11 year's old with a normal middle class life and problems (parents initiating divorce); that it's surprise by the re discovery of a young classmate (Charly Ray's character) initially as an unexpected friend an later as something else...The well crafted work of director Mark Levin is based on the mutual discovery of all these feelings (mostly new and uncontrolled)that evolved in Josh character and in another particular viewer: you.Very few movies accomplished the sensation of being part of the life, joy and suffering of a film character, and believe me, that feeling won't disappoint you.Another plus is the way NYC is portrayed, as the big and marvelous city that is your playground as a child, impossible not to relate to my own ''Big'' Buenos Aires.
You will fell in love with it too.Good acting, great development of characters; but you can summarize this way : you will be surprised with the strange sensation that someone has take a peek into your memories and heart and put it on screen..
Amazingly done, I could catch every single aspect of it and most of the time find analogue things to compare to my experiences which make me laugh a bit as no matter the country or the race those feelings are all the same.Finally I really liked also the good comedy in it as it is a all laugh movie that cheers you up and makes you laugh a bit in a nice way.
Neither of my parents even wanted to watch it, and I practically had to drag them to the TV for some "family time." However, when it started, they thought it was funny/cute and enjoyed the whole thing.
This movie was a very funny, touching portrayal of first love; in this case, between a couple of 11 year-old kids in Manhattan.
Josh Hutcherson, the male lead, is already something of a veteran, and was wonderful here in the role of "Gabe." His voice-over, which runs throughout the length of the film, is a hilarious account of the kind of bewildered self dialog that goes on when we are trying to figure out what's going on in the head of this beautiful creature that we can't seem to stop thinking about; it seemed oh so familiar.
A very cute film about first love with two fantastic leads in Josh Hutcherson (Gabe) and the charming young actress Charlie Ray (Rosemary).
I found myself wondering if I could have been so bold like "Gabe" in his pursuit of "Rosemary" when I was going thru my junior high and high school days with my first crush.The ending is very open ended and I personally hope that the husband and wife team of Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett are in the process of writing "Little Manhattan 2".
In a world of romantic comedies that with each passing year exponentially dumb down their stories, feature increasingly mediocre acting, and finish with cheesy, predictable endings; it's simply poetic justice that a low-budget movie starring two pre-teens out-shines, and shows up some of Hollywoods' highest paid performers.I happened to come across this movie a few days ago on Lifetime.
Soon, their play dates "practicing" leads Gabe (Josh Hutcherson) head over heels for the adorable Rosemary (Charlie Ray) amidst a divorce between Gabe's parents.Little Manhattan's success rides completely on the shoulders of Hutcherson and Ray, who come through with superb performances, and are helped by an very well written script.
What makes it more laughable is that the boy isn't trying to be funny, or sarcastic, it would appear he is speaking his mind.Overall i find this movie to be a cute, adorable, spectacular, laughable masterpiece enjoyably for people of all ages.
This movie is not a kids fall in love movie, it has a point, to show what's first love, first time your heart beats when you talk to some one or worse first time your heart skips a bit when you hear some one voice, when the first time you hold that some one's hand and the first time you kiss that special someone and that first time you feel it pure, pure love all by yourself and let me tell you,your lucky if you found it at the right time but if you weren't and got it when Gabe(Josh Hutcherson)did then we might be in for some puppy love, astonishing of what we thought to be puppy love was deep love for some one you really like!!
Josh Hutcherson plays Gabe, a 10-year old New Yorker who falls head over heels in love with Rosemary (Charlie Ray), an 11-year old girl in his karate class.
The film centres on ten-year-old Gabe, a New York boy whose life revolves around friends, sport and playing referee to his estranged parents.
The adult cast, understandably, had to play second fiddle to the children but Bradley Whitford and Cynthia Nixon both delivered solid performances as Gabe's parents who were willing to put their personal squabbles to the side to support their little boy on his journey to adulthood.This film stands unique because it's one of the few to properly delve into a child's first crush since it seems, these days, film producers think only air-headed teenagers and incompetent adults (who act like air-headed teenagers) can fall in love.
To non-New Yorkers like myself, whose only insight into the city are the dark, depressing shots we see in dramas like 'Law and Order' and 'CSI', it is a charming reminder that there is more to New York than murders and cops.'Little Manhattan' is a film that I highly recommend, especially to those who enjoyed coming-of-age films like 'My Girl', 'Stand By Me' and 'Jack the Bear'.
A very simple and heartwarming love story which is told by a young boy who discovers a girl named Rosemary.
This is Josh Hutcherson at his best, and Charlie Ray...for her first movie ever that was amazing!Younger kids finally have a movie that teaches them about true love.
They show you real life issues such as your parents fighting, your mom dating and much moreI don't think they could have picked better people to play Gabe and Rosemary.I personally think guys will enjoy this movie more then girls because it's from a guys point of view.I strongly suggest that if you haven't seen this movie to go rent/see it now!
Little Manhattan is my very favorite movie!To anyone who has not seen it I strongly recommend it.It explains about first love.
This movie is a very cute love story told through the eyes of a 10 year old boy just discovering the feeling of being in love.
If you want to remember what it was like to fall in love for the first time, this is a great movie to watch..
The two young actors, "Gabe and Rosemary", have a really good interpretation and make all the adults remember how nice is to be in love.
The same sort of observational humor and cheeky voice-over narration is present in this small, relatively unremarkable 2005 film about the pangs of first love for a bright, sports-challenged ten-year old named Gabe, who lives in the Upper West Side with his parents, who are going through a slow-moving divorce.
This film is so enjoyable - Josh Hutcherson (who is a really good actor - Bridge to Terabithia & Zathura) plays the lead and carries the whole movie -he plays a young carefree New Yorker who likes basketball and video games and doesn't even think about girls until he....meets....Rosemary Telesco.
The girl is played by a young actress (this was her first film and she's really good) named Charlie Ray and the chemistry between her and Josh is amazing.
The film is also a love letter to Manhattan and there's nothing wrong with that - the cinematography is beautiful - Central Park and the Upper West Side have never looked so good.
Told from the viewpoint of Gabe, a 10 3/4 year old boy who is just developing the second sense of questioning "Do girls really have cooties?", Little Manhattan is a film that all families should see, and really all people.
With some reviews I read about Little Manhattan, people criticize it because the kids are to young to be "in love" but I see the whole premise of the movie of Gabe having feelings for the first time for a girl.
Watching this movie reminded me of the first time I had feelings for someone.Charlie Ray's debut on film was great and Josh Hutchenson as Gabe was great as well.
Little Manhattan is definitely a great film to watch if you are just looking for something entertaining.
For a film to capture all the warmth and humour that this film does while being honest and true about a theme that has been done a million times before it fantastic.The cast right from the two young leads to the experience of Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the city) and Bradley Whitford (Studio 60 -love that show) are great and the film makers are also clever in the way that they show us Manhattan but from a kids point of view.The ending itself is a masterclass.
Every time i watch this movie i again feel like i was 10 feeling afraid of talking with any girl.I would strongly recommend this movie to young guys and girls because it gives you lots to relate yourself with...The entire cast has done a fair job but Josh Hutcherson really brings Gabe to life.
A sweet charming story about a 10 year old finding his first love in New York city.
The movie is funny, adorable, tart romantic comedy showing what falling in love for the first time is.
This movie revolves around two kids of who fall in love in New York City, Manhattan.
This movie was so good, sweet and just a fun movie too watch.It beautifully describes feelings and life of preteen age generation.The story is beautiful and the character development is great.
Josh Hutcherson was great in this and so was Charlie Ray.The quality of the acting from these young stars is outstanding and the director has done an excellent job in extracting such natural and honest performances from them.I was very impressed with this movie and I recommend it for everyone.
Saw this movie long time back, its a simple, feel good love story of a 10 year old kid :)A 10 year old boy, goes through school and his parents decide to separate and start to meet new people.
Once you have gotten past the "icky" factor of a love affair between 11-year-olds and have said "yeah, right" twenty five times, you might enjoy the 2005 romantic comedy for children, Little Manhattan, a Woody Allen-esque love letter to New York without the small-minded cynicism.
Directed by Mark Levin, Producer of the TV show "The Wonder Years," the film is set in the Upper West Side of Manhattan between Central Park and Riverside Drive where all the buildings have a doorman or an elevator man (or both) (the closest look I ever got to this part of the city was from a window on the Fifth Avenue bus).Almost 11-year-old Gabe (Josh Hutcherson) is a fifth grader who lives with his divorcing parents, father Adam (Bradley Whitford) and mother Leslie (Cynthia Nixon).
The actors chosen for this movie are perfect.Many Middle School (Junior High)kids can relate to Gabe, played by Josh Hutcherson, and Rosemary, played by Charlie Ray. Two kids, a city and a love story, nothing gets better than that.
one f d sweetest and funniest romantic movie :) in <3 with that gal and The boy is my exact replica :D missed dose good old days when a strange feeling makes you helpless every time you see a beautiful girl :P Each n every change in a boy's life ,when he finds his true love, is shown so perfectly.
The story of first love of a boy and and girl who live in the same neighborhood in new York city.
The story itself is very well developed for this film and I like the narration from Gabe (most of the times) and the inspirational speech from Josh Hutcherson.
I am not saying this is a bad movie, but I just didn't like it.10 year old Gabe finds first love in Manhattan and experiments with it.
I enjoyed every second of this movie, this is very extraordinary romantic comedy, a love story about 11 years old.
Overall I think Little Manhattan is the best romantic comedy of all time.90 minutes of extraordinary love story.