Dear Frankie

Sometimes no amount of good acting can make a film hold your interest. Case in point: Dear Frankie, which stars newcomer Jack McElhone as a deaf Scottish lad who lives for the letters he gets from his long-absent merchant marine father. Emily Mortimer (Lovely and Amazing) is sublime as his adoring, strong yet vulnerable, struggling-class mum who actually writes the letters, having run away from an abusive marriage, while stoic Gerard Butler (The Phantom of the Opera) is oddly moving as a gruff, distant but tenderhearted stranger Mortimer pays to play Dad for a day when her charade seems headed toward collapse. But the film fails to convey these characters' motivations. For example, if Mum took Frankie into hiding when he was just an infant, why make up a story about his father at all? Why not just say Daddy is dead? Trying hard to be a feel-good movie despite its melancholy heart, Dear Frankie has an all too easy resolution for the mother's deceit (and the son's gullibility), and it is such a contrivance that, in the end, even the film's strong foundation of emotional veracity is called into question. Not a necessary purchase. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by director Shona Auerbach, an interview with Auerbach (14 min.), “The Story of Dear Frankie” featurette (10 min.), eight deleted scenes with optional commentary (8 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a so-so film.] (R. Blackwelder)