It's some kind of accomplishment that Fran Drescher and Bill Cosby's characters were more compelling than Robin Williams' title role. Remember, he's supposed to be the [spoiler](shooting)[/spoiler] star. I wish Williams had been a believable 10-year-old, but neither his performance nor the way his character was written made it work. And truthfully, _nobody_ got good writing in this film. The comic bits weren't funny, and the dramatic moments (especially with Jack's parents) were absolutely cringe-worthy. Once again, here I am in the aftermath of choosing a movie based on knowing nothing about it other than who some of the lead actors are—and once again, I find myself disappointed.

As much as I'd like to enjoy a Robin Williams performance (where he's still charismatic as usual) but when having to take on the role of an actual child, it isn't very convincing. The writing in general is pretty terrible, particularly for the children.

★★½☆☆ (2.5/5) An interesting premise with emotional potential, but the execution feels uneven. Robin Williams brings warmth and sincerity to the role, which helps sell the more heartfelt moments. It leans heavily into sentimentality and doesn’t always balance the comedy and drama smoothly. Well-intentioned, but a bit inconsistent overall.