My Boy Jack

My Boy Jack
"Own it on DVD April 22, 2008"

It's very easy for a child actor to get stuck in the stereotype they get put in. In a smart move by Danielle Radcliffe (Harry Potter), he took a role as author Rudyard Kipling's son in the film My Boy Jack. After playing Harry Potter for the first 5 stories, Daniel stretches himself a bit in playing the role of Jack Kipling. The time is 1915 and Jack wants to join the military. With his dad speaking publicly to get England's support in the fight against Germany, Jack seems passionate to join the fight. Just as passionate as young Jack is, it seems Rudyard is more passionate than he. At one point, you start to wonder if Rudyard is the reason that Jack is joining the military. Anyway, things don't come easy for Jack. He first gets rejected by the Navy for his bad eyesight. And the chances for him to join the Army seem just as hopeless. That is, until his dad uses his influence to get Jack in. While all this is happening, World War 1 is about to begin and the numbers don't look good for England's troops. They are severely outnumbered by Germany's massive military. Once accepted in the military, Jack has a hard time adjusting with his glasses constantly falling off during weapons training. After his glasses are repaired to remain fastened to his face, his perseverance proves him to be a valuable soldier. Back home, family tensions rise as Rudyard begins to wonder if Jack going to war was the right choice. On top of that, his relationship with his daughter and wife get rocky as they are worried about Jack's safety. This film is a powerful example of how war affects not only a nation, but individual families as well. The emotion displayed by the family during this difficult time hits hard as you feel their pain. The DVD will be released by BBC Video on April 22, 2008 and it also includes exclusive interviews with the cast that includes Radcliffe, David Haig, and Kim Cattrall. I highly recommend this great film.