I really was rooting for this movie. It’s such a well-meaning, good-natured adventure movie featuring children (that adults will like too). But it sadly has pacing issues that make it’s middle act lag to the point of distraction. But, I argue, it still tries.

The film is about a family that moves to a town with a local myth about a mysterious figure known as The Water Man. The wife and mother of the family (played by Rosario Dawson) has leukemia and her son learns that the Water Man is immortal and can, indeed, bring back the dead. So with a local girl (and his trusty katana) he sets off into the wilderness to find the legend.

This film is the directing debut of David Oyelowo who also stars as the boy’s father. I think he brings a familiar youthful energy to this movie that reminds me of the adventure films of the 80s. I think this film is earnest and well-meaning and it’s a shame that he – or his editor or the screenwriter – couldn’t maintain a consistent ongoing pace or feel. I just got rather bored and distracted during the middle stretch of the movie. It never lost me, but it did hurt the pacing and my attention.

This film is very well acted, especially by the boy played by Lonnie Chavis and the girl, a real talent named Amiah Miller. I look forward to both of these young people in future films. Chavis has an innate charisma and a great smile and Miller has a real AnnaSophia Robb cool vibe to her. Dawson and Oyelowo turn in their usual solid to excellent work and they do have critical scenes as the worried parents.

So this film doesn’t get the higher score I wanted to give it but it’s still a good enough movie to recommend if you want a solid children’s adventure film. And I don’t call it that for its childishness, but for its wholesome good nature (and far starring child actors on an adventure). This film has a lot to offer, even if flawed.

Score: 78