December Boys (2007)
Average Rating: 5/10
Reviews Counted: 69
Fresh: 28 | Rotten: 41
December Boys' location and settings are invitingly gorgeous, but the coming-of-age drama that takes place on them is uneventful and far too sentimental.
Average Rating: 5.2/10
Critic Reviews: 19
Fresh: 9 | Rotten: 10
December Boys' location and settings are invitingly gorgeous, but the coming-of-age drama that takes place on them is uneventful and far too sentimental.
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Average Rating: 3.3/5
User Ratings: 22,354
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Movie Info
Prolific television and film director Rod Hardy helms this tale of four young orphans coming of age in 1960s-era Australia. Soon after the quartet leaves the orphanage behind for a seaside holiday, rumors that one of them is about to be adopted lead to steadily rising tensions among the tightly knit group. Adapted from Michael Noonan's popular novel by screenwriter Marc Rosenberg, December Boys is headlined by Harry Potter film series star Daniel Radcliffe. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
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Cast
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Daniel Radcliffe
Maps -
Christian Byers
Spark -
Lee Cormie
Misty -
James Fraser
Spit -
Teresa Palmer
Lucy -
Jack Thompson
Bandy McAnsh -
-
Victoria Hill
Teresa
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December Boys Trailer & Photos
All Critics (73) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (30) | Rotten (41) | DVD (7)
Radcliffe is good at showing vulnerability but without the skills to give it gradation. The magic doesn't work for him this time.
Top CriticI was not charmed. I was not moved.
Particularly for Radcliffe fans, it's an agreeable journey.
There seem to be two movies going on here at the same time, and December Boys would have been better off going all the way with one of them.
Though familiar as an old shoe, this is straightforward and well told.
The two halves of December Boys -- the pre-adolescent getting of wisdom and the adolescent getting of action -- never mesh.
Mildly involving tale of four orphan boys in the Outback
1960s coming-of-age tale with Harry Potter star.
The coast of Australia is an apt setting for Rod Hardy's precious drama: It's Beaches for men.
Fans and industry watchers who wonder whether Radcliffe has what it takes to turn his increasingly sophisticated performances in [Harry Potter] into a full-blown adult career as an actor... can see for themselves: the kid's got talent...
Director Rod Hardy adds some whimsical touches to an otherwise cliche-filled story, but the young orphans never emerge as full-blooded characters.
Conflicted but well-acted.
Pleasant but pedestrian.
No reason to see it. No reason not to see it, either. Shrug.
Audience Reviews for December Boys
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