| Overall Grade: | B |
|---|---|
| Violence: | B |
| Sexual Content: | C+ |
| Language: | A- |
| Drugs/Alcohol: | B- |
| MPAA Rating: | |
| Video Release: | 31 Oct 2005 |
In-Depth Review
ShareMillions is rated PG: for thematic elements, language, some mild peril and sensuality.
Seven-year-old Damian (Alex Etel) believes in God--plain and simple. His extraordinary faith also results in personal visits from deceased patron Saints like Peter (Alun Armstrong), Frances (Enzo Cilenti) and a cigarette-smoking Clare of Assis (Kathryn Pogson). Yet his ability, to see things others can't, makes him a little wary when a large bag of money suddenly lands on top of his self-constructed playhouse.
Afraid it might be an apparition, Damian runs home to get his 9-year-old brother Anthony (Lewis McGibbon) to confirm his finding. After carefully counting the cash and hiding it under the bed, Damian knows the bills are real and is sworn to secrecy by his older sibling.
For Damian, the bundles of English pounds are like manna from heaven. Wanting to help the poor and destitute, he scours the streets for people in need. Anthony, on the other hand, suspects there might be a more earthly explanation for the luggage. But his self-indulgent plans keep him from searching for an answer or from telling his dad (James Nesbitt) about the loot.
Although the brothers have opposing views on how to dispose of the notes, they agree on the fact they have only a short time to spend them. Britain is just days away from converting to the European euro and the printed paper will soon be useless. With time ticking down, the two brothers do their best to use up their newly acquired riches. But when Damian makes a sizeable donation to a school project designed to help children in Africa, the charity's spokesperson (Daisy Donovan) and the school administration become leery and call for the police.
Told with the charm and innocence of a child, Millions looks at the effect large sums of legal tender can have on people, both the givers and receivers. Even adults aren't immune from the appeal of easy wealth and real ethical dilemmas arise when the source of the ill-begotten currency is discovered. Unfortunately, in this case, honesty takes a backseat.
Nevertheless, money isn't the only issue confronted in this film. The boys and their father are dealing with the untimely death of their mother and wife. It's an event that tests each of them in a different way. As well, Anthony is beginning to experiment with more grown-up topics. Perusing an on-line lingerie catalog, he introduces his younger brother to close-up shots of the female anatomy.
While the unexpected turmoil casts shadows of doubt over the little family, Damian's beliefs remain intact. As a result, he discovers that miracles are the result of conviction, not cold hard cash.
Studio: 2005 Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.
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Discussion Ideas
Is it possible to do good things with illegally obtained money? Are Damian’s actions in the film justified by his innocence? How would you deal with a similar find?
Why did the brothers have such differing views on how to spend the cash? Given a large amount of money, which example would you most likely follow?
Video alternatives
A seventh grade student takes his homework assignment to make a difference in the world seriously and decides to start a campaign to Pay It Forward by doing for others what they can’t do for themselves. In The Mighty, two young teens face their own challenges with courage and smarts after they team up to deal with the bullies at their school.
Home Video Notes
DVD Release Date: 1 November 2005
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment presents Millions on DVD, but not quite a wealth of bonus materials. But what they do supply should be sufficient for those curious about this film, which had a limited release in theaters. These nuggets include a full-length commentary by director Danny Boyle and Screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce, deleted scenes and a behind-the-scenes featurette. Audio tracks are available in English (5.1 Dolby Surround) and Spanish (Dolby Surround), with subtitles in English, Spanish and French.
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About the Reviewer: Kerry Bennett
Kerry Bennett is interested in media from both a journalist and parent perspective. Along with authoring articles for several family-oriented publications, she has written for Parent Previews for nearly 10 years. She serves as Vice President of the Alberta Association for Media Awareness. She and her husband Garry have four sons.
