Delivering Milo

"Delivering Milo" delivered big time! Albert Finney shines as the "guardian angel" sent down to Earth to (so he thinks) help "some kid" see within a 24 hour day that the life the kid was about to begin would be worth living. Refusing to "be born" would not only end the kid's life, but also that of all babies who were to be born henceforth.

The premise is even more outrageous than that certain 1946 Frank Capra "sleeper", but I still enjoyed this film very much. Seeing the "man-about-town" Finney character enjoy his "day back on his own turf", constantly loored by temting women from his past, is fun to watch. When at the very end Finney gives up on the kid who seems to have made up his mind NOT to "go for the deal", the old man (and the kid) make a discovery that changes everything.

Regarding those who criticised the casting choices of the "Heavenly Officials", I strongly disagree here as well. I found the fact that these characters were all played by youngsters refreshing and effective. Why do we always look for the Lionel Barrymoore type to give sound advise or direction? Why can't a 16 year old have something brilliant to add to a plan?

I have seen many films, and a few of them receive 10 out of 10 points on the scale. This is one of them! 10/10

Delivering Milo is a fantastic journey into the world that humans are unsure evens exists. What would happen if a soul refused to be born? It does get your mind turning. Granted, the plotline that the entire human race will die out is a bit tacky, but the idea is the important factor.

I personally found it wonderfully refreshing in the way the writers(David Hubbard, and Diana Wagman) criss-crossed the different character's plotlines; however, the connections could be easily seen through hints scattered throughout. The characters did seem a little slow on the draw, but what can you do.

I have to disagree with previous comments on the issue of blatantness. The plot turns were, for the most part, unexpected. Albert Finney also fills his roll as a high life gambler well. In all Delivering Milo is a good movie.

Probably a bad combination: watching a movie like this while reading William Goldman's "Which Lie Did I Tell?", among other things an incisive (and often hilarious) dissection of all the things that can go wrong in the development of a screenplay. So, here I am in an airplane, with "Which Lie Did I Tell?" in my lap, and "Delivering Milo" on the screen...

If I had to give the shortest accounting of the problem with "Milo," it would be: if you know where you're going, the journey better be the part with the surprises. And there just aren't a lot of surprises. This is a screenplay that starts with a cute concept, wraps with a cash-cow ending, and leaves out anything memorable or really enjoyable in the middle.

Performances were, well, mediocre. Albert Finney was good in many places, but has morphed distractingly into William "Priceline" Shatner's doppleganger in appearance. I kept thinking this would have been a *great* showcase role for George Carlin; he would have put quite a bit more edge and humor into it.

Bridget Fonda was fine but not spectacular, the actor playing her husband veers heavily into Robert Hays territory, and Lesley Ann Warren is pretty much wasted as yet another brassy dame, a muted turn on her role in Victor/Victoria. The kid playing Milo was apparently cloned off of Elijah Wood Jr.'s genetic material, although not entirely successfully.

But the "camp counselors" ...what happened here? Did they raid a sophomore high school drama class en masse, with no consideration for who might have talent? Or did the director just think it would make things even more zany and off-kilter if everyone trotted out their most bogus, high-falutin' accent? I did think Alison Lohman was awfully pretty, though.

All that being said, I still got all watery-eyed at the ending, and the one riff I *didn't* see hurtling through the Holland Tunnel hours in advance was the very last little tidbit, which I did like. But touching family moments will do that to me every time -- you can reel me in with an AT&T ad -- that doesn't mean the filmmakers didn't waste a moderately interesting premise by forgetting to write a compelling middle.

5/10

I, being a mere teenager, feel quite awful being surrounded by the events in the outside world. This movie really made me realize the better things about life.

In my opinion, Albert Finney, no matter how hammy his acting was, did quite well considering what kind of character he was playing.

Anton Yelchin also wasn't bad, but I hated the character he was playing, for I feel that Milo was acting selfish and annoying.

Overall, I find that this movie is quite enjoyable for a quiet Sunday morning, or anytime you are feeling a little down. This movie, though having a religious element, can really be enjoyed by all. Come on people, it's just a movie, not a display of what religion is right or wrong. It just gives you something to watch.

A classic story of redemption, Delivering Milo has great performances, humor, and perhaps a few tears. I watch a lot of films and often tire of Hollywood's penchant for the cynical. If you're looking for a positive message, Delivering Milo delivers.

Aside from the sentimental value it's also an excellent creative concept. It will certainly hold your interest, and it does tug on the heartstrings a bit. But hey, if you're feeling too good about life after this film, just watch the evening news, that'll slap you back to reality.