It's the summer of 1959. Twelve year old Sandy Wilcox (Margaret Langrick) hates being treated as a kid. Her family lives on a pastoral farm. Her American cousin Butch Walker from California visits driving a red Cadillac convertible. He's everything cool that she wants to be. She's nothing more than a kid to him. He's a James Dean wannabe. He has a fling with Shirley Darling which angers her boyfriend Lenny McPhee. In the end, he's simply a skirt chasing runaway driving mommy's car.
Margaret Langrick is an intriguing young actress but John Wildman is no James Dean. At best, he is pretending. That may be the point but there are better ways to do it. Sandy Wilson has written a sweet coming-of-age story but her directing leaves a lot to be desired. She spends more effort in getting the time period than getting great performances. The acting and style are a bit amateurish. The story is there but the movie doesn't quite arrive.
Margaret Langrick is an intriguing young actress but John Wildman is no James Dean. At best, he is pretending. That may be the point but there are better ways to do it. Sandy Wilson has written a sweet coming-of-age story but her directing leaves a lot to be desired. She spends more effort in getting the time period than getting great performances. The acting and style are a bit amateurish. The story is there but the movie doesn't quite arrive.