The Boy Who Could Fly (1986) User Reviews

Lovely movie and there could be an interesting sequel

[mjarvis0 · 8/10 · 2 February 2009]

Like other commentators before me I watched this film as a young man and it touched me. In fact it moved me to tears. Now I am older I am still touched by the simplicity of this film and yet it is complex in showing us that from adults to children we all have things to deal with. The reason why Eric Gibb could fly is the most touching of all and in case there are people who do not believe that it is possible for one to sense tragedy in one close to you, believe me it's real.

As I pen this comment I have just watched it again and cannot help but feel that even twenty years plus since this movie came out there is the scope for a sequel 'The Man who could fly' I am not talking about a TV series but a one off movie showing our stars meeting again in adult hood. Something to think about. I liked this movie and I would like to own it on DVD should it be released for the European audience.

gentle sensitive family film

[SnoopyStyle · 8/10 · 22 August 2015]

Milly Michaelson (Lucy Deakins), her little brother Louis (Fred Savage) and mother Charlene (Bonnie Bedelia) move into their new home. She gets a new friend in pushy Geneva Goodman (Mindy Cohn) while Louis gets bullied by Geneva's brother and his friends. Charlene has a difficult time to start anew after losing her husband. Eric Gibb (Jay Underwood) is a mysterious mute boy living in the room facing Milly. His drunken uncle Hugo (Fred Gwynne) is his guardian. People think Eric is autistic. He started to believe that he could fly at 5 when his parents died in a plane crash. Milly wonders if he could truly fly. Their teacher Mrs. Sherman (Colleen Dewhurst) works to keep him from being institutionalized with Milly's help.

It's a wonderful sensitive film that is good for the whole family. Lucy Deakins is endearing and sweet. There is a gentle magic about the movie. It's very romantic in the simple childlike way and also surprisingly funny. The family drama is poignant. It's a live action fairy tale.

One of the classic and wonderful films from the 80's!

[RUKIA22 · 8/10 · 18 January 2005]

The boy who could fly was and still is one of my favourite films and my feelings about this film haven't changed since. It opens as Millie and her family are starting there new life in town and moving in to their new home. As they are settling in Millie sees a boy called Eric he lives just opposite her he doesn't speak and shows no emotions. But one thing he can do is fly. Millie befriends him and tries to get to know him better and slowly he begins to open up to her. They fall in love and it's so sweet and heart warming This is an underrated gem from the 80's.Some people may have missed this film but I recommend it to anyone looking for something with a heart and a great story. The music by Bruce Broughton is just beautiful and wonderful and the song in the closing credits walking on air is just fantastic. This film has a positive message about dreams and believing that things can happen it's one of the best films I've ever seen. They just don't make films like this anymore.

A meaningful family oriented drama

[soranno · 4 November 2002]

Back in the late 1980's, Jay Underwood was a teenaged boy who had a short lived starring career in films. He made his starring debut in this 1986 Lorimar release which could've been a major star making vehicle if its theatrical response was more profitable. Time has served it well and it now stands as a family favorite from the 1980's. Underwood portrays a boy who isolates himself from society after his parents die in a plane crash. He stays in his house all day long and pretends to be in a land where he can fly. Lucy Deakins portrays a teenaged girl who feels sorry for Underwood and tries to help him fit in. Somewhat sappy at times but otherwise genuinely touching. Film is also notable for serving as the debut performance of Fred Savage, the star of the TV series "The Wonder Years."

Flying Dangerously Close To The Ground

[sixtwentysix · 7/10 · 25 May 2004]

A classic 80's film that nears cheesy pap but still avoids and retains heart through excellent pacing, dialog and acting. It might not hold up as well as when I first saw it because the family film concept had not yet been run into the ground yet for me.

Fred Savage does a good job in an interesting subplot that involves a bully and funerals for GI JOE soldiers. Fond memories of his confrontation with the neighborhood bullies still color my memory of this film.

A fun warm family fantasy that seems to be in short supply as of late due to it being nearly impossible to make something realistic because of the amount of film cliche in the modern world. Still, the film is very watchable and fun. 7/10

Gentle, touching and intelligent 'family film'

[runamokprods · 7/10 · 29 January 2015]

Sappy? Yeah, I guess at times… but this also mostly earns its big heart, and treats early teens with more far dignity and insight than most films.

Lucy Deakins is terrific as an intelligent, thoughtful 14 year old, who slowly grows to care for the autistic boy next door. He doesn't speak, but dreams only of flying away, a condition brought on by the deaths of his parents in a plane crash years before. Now he's in the care of an alcoholic uncle (the always wonderful Fred Gwynne), and the powers that be think he might be better off being institutionalized.

Almost all the acting is top notch, which is crucial in this character based story. Jay Underwood walks various fine lines as the titular boy, named Eric. By turns mysterious, locked in, charming he seems believable as an emotionally isolated adolescent as well as a possible source of magic. Colleen Dewhurst doesn't have a lot of screen time, but makes something rich and real out of a concerned teacher who doesn't want to see Eric locked away, knowing it will kill his spirit. And Bonnie Bedelia makes a touching warm and understanding widowed mom.

There are some scenes where the comic relief is more than a little forced, and a sub-plot about a little brother taking on neighborhood bullies seems grafted on from a far more Disney-ish film. But this Capra-esque gentle, bittersweet fantasy is a great 1980s film for tweens even today, and not a bad one for adults as well.

They don't make 'em like this anymore.

[CuriosityKilledShawn · 10/10 · 11 May 2004]

I'm so tired of modern family movies full of fart jokes or movies where teenagers make love to pastries and it's supposed to be funny and then they staple on some superficial message at the end in an attempt to be poignant and balance out all the trash that came before. Every other week we are tortured with some nonsense of this calibre and whenever I wish for a movie that stands out from the crowd I have to go back in time and consider some overlooked gem. The Boy Who Could Fly is exactly that.

The characters seem so real and their emotions genuine, it builds at a slow pace but it never gets boring and story development is consistent. This is not a ferociously loud summer crowd-pleaser or something bloated with pointless SFX. Very few movies have the power to make a whole story out of characters and situation alone without feeling the need for some ridiculous set piece or blaring thrash metal guitars.

In fact Bruce Broughton's score is the wonderful opposite of that. The performances, especially the two leads, are flawless and the direction is far more refined than the typical. Everything in this movie comes together perfectly to make a film so unique and charming. If you have lost your faith in the current dreck that graces our screens and if you want a family movie with some meaning and subtext then check this out. And keep an eye out for director John Carpenter as on of the Coupe De Villes.

The DVD is in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen and in Dolby 2.0. It has an introduction by Jay Underwood and director Nick (Michael Myers) Castle, they also feature in a commentary with Lucy Deakins and Fred Savage.

A Truly Wonderful Film Filled With Fantasy & Heart

[funky_cherry86 · 7/10 · 5 September 2010]

This has been one of my favourite films since I was a kid The story of Milly & Eric was incredible seeing them beginning to learn from one another and then slowly fall in love was magic.

Jay Underwood is an amazing actor his performance showed how gifted he is, this movie was a lot better than the overly done up fantasy films that are shown today. I haven't seen it in years but it still remains as one of the best movies I enjoyed watching on t.v. the film had all the right ingredients, fantasy, tears, romance and above all fantastic visual effects. For anyone who wants to believe that anything's possible I recommend The Boy Who Could Fly you won't be disappointed.

Lovely movie

[loeckm · 10/10 · 20 January 2005]

I'm really surprised I didn't see more comments on this movie. I remember watching this movie when I was, I think 13 or 14. I never quite understood the complexities of emotion that were put into this movie. But I had always remembered it from my younger years. I decided to pick up the DVD when it came out again. Now that I'm older, and actually work with cut scenes as an animator for a living. I now see everything that I missed.

I am by all means not an emotional person or cry a lot etc, but I have at least watched this film more then 15 times in the last year. No other movie has ever brought me to tears every time I watch it. Not tears of sadness or being upset , but tears of happiness. There are so many moments in this picture that can overwhelm you with that gut feeling of real love. You really let these characters take your heart and go with it. That is what a true movie is a about , is the ability to let you heart go and pull in that emotion from them and try to imagine feeling what they feel. I don't think any other movie has captured my heart that way. I might seem all soft and sound like a push over but I'm about as manly as you can get.

If you have the time to see this movie or buy it. You truly will receive a much broader look at life , love , fear , relationships and most of all believing in yourself and who you are.

I didn't want reveal any of the movie but it really has touched me.

Michael Loeck Character animator http://www.immortal3d.com

Quick review

[d-shilling-1 · 7/10 · 4 May 2021]

An wonderful touching tale. Lucy Deakins and Jay Underwood are brilliant in this. Directed by Michael Myers !

I thought this film needed a few flying lessons.

[Aaron1375 · 5/10 · 16 October 2010]

I will not say this is an entirely bad film, just not a really good one. It kind of straddles the middle of good and bad thus proving to be a somewhat neutral film. It has some good stuff within, but I feel that the end kind of makes it all fall apart. The story has a family moving into a new home and the next door neighbor is in charge of taking care of this boy whose parents were killed in I believe a plane crash. Do not quote me on that though as it has been forever since I last saw this film. Well you find out the boy has problems, though I do not believe he would be sent to a mental institution as they are not free and I am betting he does not have the insurance to pay for it. Still, he has problems, though he goes to a normal school. So he is so mentally unstable that he is place in a mental institution, but he can attend a regular high school? Well the girl that lives next door and is part of the family that just moved in sort of bonds with said boy and thus you have their strange friendship developing for most of the film. You then have an unexplained end as they should have remained a bit more obscure, but who am I to argue how a filmmaker should end his/her movie. There is a nice subplot involving the brother of the girl trying to get around the block and take care of some bullies that was rather funny and more interesting at times than said flying story.

Perfect warm-hearted family faire mixes down-to-Earth drama with flightful fantasy

[ets2000 · 10/10 · 27 May 2000]

The Boy Who Could Fly is one of those rare family films that mixes just a touch of fantasy with a truly down-to-Earth dramatic story.

Following the death of Bedelia's husband, she moves her family into a new neighborhood next door to an autistic young man (Underwood). Deakins gains interest in Underwood's silent world of thought while attempting to keep things stable at home. Unusual things begin to happen around Underwood. While life seemingly falls apart for her family, Deakins and the audience are irresistably drawn into Underwood's world and we begin to question if his apparent dream to fly isn't more than just a fantasy. The acting in this film is superb, especially silent Underwood who conveys more thought and emotion with his eyes, face and body than the actors who speak. Bruce Broughton's melodious score is heartwarming and delivers full enchantment for the "flying?" scenes. (The main theme is so enchanting, the Walt Disney company has used it to open every film at their El Capitan theater in Hollywood, CA). This is a wonderful film for the entire family. Slight warning: for families that have recently lost a parent, it would be a good idea for the other parent to watch with the kiddies. And although they may find themselves dealing with the emotion of their trauma, they should feel much better when the film ends.

A warm and poignant tale.

[gkearns · 10/10 · 16 May 2000]

In an atmosphere of fantasy, the movie explores several real human issues. The story centers on a mother (Bonnie Bedelia), her young teenage daughter (Lucy Deakins), and her pre-teen son (Fred Savage) as they struggle to cope after the beloved father's sudden passing. Their grief is intensified by the manner of his death and their almost immediately having to adjust to a new life, a new home, a new neighborhood, and for the kids, a new school and new friends. Into this mix enters Eric (Jay Underwood), the apparently autistic teenage boy next door, who is coping with demons of his own as a result of his parents' sudden death in an airplane crash. So grief is involved, and adjustment, and trying to fit in, and acceptance of human differences, and courage, and love - love within a family group and among people, as well as real boy/girl love. Writer-director Nick Castle deals with these issues with respectful sensitivity, as does the excellent ensemble cast of Lucy Deakins, Jay Underwood, Bonnie Bedelia, Fred Savage, Colleen Dewhurst, Fred Gwynne, and Mindy Cohn. That fantasy might be important to plot movement shouldn't be surprising, considering the movie's title. However, whether that fantasy is allegorical or real, or both, is in the eyes of the beholder. In any case, it's a warm and poignant tale, and it deserves a high place in the literature of motion pictures.

Changed me

[stuartmcg-62424 · 10/10 · 18 November 2018]

I also watched this movie as a young teenager. And it's a movie I will never forget, I just remember it changed me somehow, as a person.

After 20 Years...

[mathknapp · 9/10 · 8 June 2010]

I just watched this movie for the first time in at least 20 years, and to my pleasant surprise, it lived up to my fondest memories of it.

To be sure, there are flaws in the movie. I doubt that an autistic person with as severe a case of that disease as Eric would show so much response ... but then I suspect he was not truly autistic, but traumatized. A couple of scenes are cheesy or out of place (the dream sequence or the drinking scene in particular).

Still, it is a touching film. Outside of Eric, the characters are very real and you feel for them. You feel the Louie's frustration, and the mother's fear, and Milly's uncertainty, and Uncle Hugo's disappointment in himself.

Beyond that, the emotional touchstone is NOT Eric, and NOT the mystery surrounding him, but rather the struggle of the Michaelson's, and Milly in particular. Even before the dramatic conclusion, Milly has found hope through her relationship with Eric, and tries to share this the rest of her family. As the movie reaches it's (somewhat cheesy) conclusion, it feels good to see all the happy endings, but mostly feels good to see the characters with hope and optimism, regardless of the end result.

As a child I remembered having a mini-crush on Milly. As an adult, I totally understand why. She is a beautiful character, not just her looks (where she is very pretty in a girl-next-door sort of way), but her care for her brother, her mother, her neighbor. The strength she shows in trying to keep everything together when she feels like its falling apart. Her kindness. Her gentleness. Her love. What a wonderful character, and what a character so deserving of being saved.

Ultimately, the movie is very uplifting. It reaches beyond plausibility, but while the ending may have been necessary for some characters (Uncle Hugo), Milly had already grown into her happy ending, and I could feel her turning the tide for her mother and brother regardless. And much like the Shawshank Redemption delivers it's best line at the close, (MINOR SPOILER HERE)when Colleen Dewhurst says "Maybe if you dream hard enough and love long enough, anything is possible."

A touching story of how dreams can come true

[cockneyrobin · 10/10 · 12 May 2011]

I was a teenager when this film first came out and never got round to seeing it back then.

It was literally after reading a recommendation on an 80's website that i watched it this morning online and had to write a review.

This film had me captivated from the beginning titles, right the way through to the closing credits. You cannot help but become engrossed in this film due to the quality of the cast and the soundtrack.

I won't go into details about the plot of the film as other reviews have already covered that but all i will say is that i'm a 38 year old guy who doesn't lose control of his emotions often but i cried a hell of a lot at the final scene between the two lead characters.

If you haven't seen this gem of a movie then don't wait as long as i did to get round to seeing it. You will fall in love with it, i guarantee that.

Uplifting tale of friendship

[Thornfield2 · 9/10 · 22 May 2001]

There are few films the go beyond the realms of reality, yet hit so close to home. Such is the case with this film. I could immediately identify with Milly. She is a down to earth girl who was alone and wanted to believe in a boy who was as lonely (if not more) as she was. But little did she suspect that his story would be one that would go beyond all of her wildest dreams. This movie is very rare in today's movie market, a wholesome and innocent film that is a pleasure to watch again and again. One of the most beautiful scenes to me is when she reaches for a rare white rose with one pink petal and as she climbes the railing (the only thing gaurding her from a deep gorge) Eric immediatly grabs her arm, concerned for her safety. The love is really there in his eyes. Wonderful film that illustrates the forbidden lines between reality and the incredible.

such a surprise movie

[backnblack-06123 · 9/10 · 11 January 2021]

Not sure if this was a made for tv show or motion pictures but i remember how surprised i was at the quality of it, the story was amazing along with Fred Gwynne's performance, this is a show that you will be glad you watched it.

Movie with Heart

[BoredNow33 · 10/10 · 1 April 2019]

I have loved this movie since I was a child. It was one for the first movies I saw with a person who had Autism. The movie deals with the subject matter in a very respectful way. All of the characters are very realistic and very easy to relate to. Each character was worthy of caring about.

This movie inspired me to help in middle school in the peer to peer program. It helped me to broaden my horizons and see the beauty in each and every person.

Jay Underwood and Lucy Deakins are wonderful in their roles. Bonnie Bedelia is outstanding as always. Fred Savage is cute as ever.

this was the best movie i have ever seen in my life

[prissyj79 · 10/10 · 10 March 2005]

This movie is great. It takes you back when wishes and faith brought people a long way. There is no getting around it if you have never seen this movie you need to. This is a great movie for kids to watch compared to the movie choices that they have today, but yet is great movie for adults. This movie is an older movie but yet is the only movie that I can honestly say was great. no complaint or suggestions just great. Well written and directed the actors and actress's where great. This movie is one that should never be forgotten and I would love to see anther movie made that is like this. This movie should never leave your library of movies and if you do not own it you should there is no getting over it it was the best movie of my time and that is not very long but it always will be the best.

Fantasy 80's parable draws you in

[jeabraham · 9/10 · 27 January 2007]

I'm a sucker for the coming of age stories. This one's about a high school girl who moves to a new neighbourhood, who befriends the autistic boy next door. The boy seems to be able to fly; he's obsessed with airplanes and spends long hours sitting in the window or standing on the roof.

The parts are all well played. There's lots of real emotion and a fantastic portrayal of real high school problems. Plus who doesn't dream of flying?

Some of these young actors went on to larger roles. Fred Savage looks a lot younger here than in The Princess Bride or The Wonder Years. Jason Priestley is barely recognizable.

A great family movie.

A warm movie that makes you feels good!

[xanderdeafman · 10/10 · 28 May 2017]

When I seen this back in the 80s, I didn't understand what the story's about, all I could was get the gist: a boy who's mute, and can fly, despite what I termed bullies who wants to lock him up for his refusal to join society.

But then, today I found the movie online and found the English Subtitle and finally downloaded it, and watched it.

Damn, it's the best movie I ever seen in years when I finally understand what it's all about! It's so good! I laugh at the funny parts, felt sad at the sad parts, I felt everything with the emotional tone of the movie, it's that good!

I'm grateful to catch up on yet another movie with a working English Subtitle that someone generously contributed to us deafs' understanding. Whoever you are, thanks, mate!

And I loved the ability to fly, we all can, for our wonderful human imagination gives us the ability to fly, no matter what circumstances, no matter what obstacles is placed in our path, our wonderful human imagination gives us the ability to THINK beyond what you'd logically call "It can't be done!", "It's impossible!", "You're dreaming!" Well, it's already done. If you can think, then it's happening already, manifesting out into reality!

After all, our world is proof of this, nothing in this world was built WITHOUT human imagination being the first prime mover!

Thus, believe and have faith, for all things is possible to the God, which is our human Imagination!

Thanks for the movie, I am grateful for this wonderful movie. Now I and my fiancée enjoys the movie very much. Cheers!

A childhood favourite

[evans-j34 · 8/10 · 8 January 2022]

Just as beautiful a film to me now as it was over 3years ago, I miss the days Hollywood came out with films like this. Great actors great story beautiful chemistry, a real heart felt story with some slight humour in places. A very touching film.

Breathtaking film I've ever seen

[rorymacdonald-68014 · 10/10 · 7 August 2021]

Absolute incredible movie it's absolutely amazing I love how it's about everything is possible and also how it's about friendship and love I love it.

Great Movie

[mallorylauve · 9/10 · 20 June 2018]

I remember seeing this movie when I was younger when I was about 12 and being in love with. I loved Millie and Eric. The movie is very underrated and can be buried under all the 80's classics but once you see you can see why it's cult hit