Radio Flyer (1992)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Richard Donner

Writer (WGA):

David M. Evans (written by)

Release Date:

21 February 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Powered by imagination.

Plot:

A father recounts a dark period of his childhood when he and his little brother lived in the suburbs.

Plot Keywords:

Radio Flyer | Childhood | Physical Abuse | Belt | Wagon

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Lorraine Bracco	...	Mary
John Heard	...	Daugherty
Adam Baldwin	...	The King
Elijah Wood	...	Mike
Joseph Mazzello	...	Bobby
Ben Johnson	...	Geronimo Bill
Sean Baca	...	Fisher
Robert Munic	...	Older Fisher
Garette Ratliff Henson	...	Chad (as Garette Ratliff)
Thomas Ian Nicholas	...	Ferdie
Noah Verduzco	...	Victor Hernandez
Isaac Ocampo	...	Jorge Hernandez
Kaylan Romero	...	Jesus Hernandez
Abraham Verduzco	...	Carlos Hernandez
T.J. Evans	...	Big Raymond

Also Known As:

A Força da Ilusão (Portugal) [pt]
Flug ins Abenteuer (Germany) [de]
Il grande volo (Italy) [it]
La fuerza de la ilusión (Spain) [es]
Le rêve de Bobby (Canada: French title) [fr]
Lento unelmiin (Finland) [fi]
Vuelo a la libertad (Argentina) [es]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for theme (child abuse) and violence.

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

UK:12 (re-rating) (2006) (uncut) | UK:12 (uncut) | Iceland:L | Canada:PG (Ontario) | South Korea:All | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Chile:14 | Spain:13 | UK:PG (cut) | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Columbia State Historic Park - 22708 Broadway, Columbia, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The sacking of original director David M. Evans, replacing him with Richard Donner, and later re-shoots following test screenings meant that this modest little film's budget jumped from $15 million to $30 million.

Goofs:

Continuity: When they first arrive to find that Bobby has flown away, the walkie talkie antennae is bent. When they show Mike and his mom it’s straight again.

Quotes:

Older Mike: [on getting the idea to sell golf balls] It was money, I didn't know how it would help but I knew we were better off if we had some than if we didn't.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Lost Kubrick: The Unfinished Films of Stanley Kubrick (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Let's Get Together

Seriously interesting slice of bittersweet magic realism

This bittersweet slice of magic realism had a checkered production history (director/writer replaced) and tanked at the box office, but it's a helluva film.

Elijah Wood and Joseph Mazzello are pre-teen brothers whose flaky mom (Lorraine Bracco) shacks up with a mean-spirited alcoholic (Adam Baldwin). During his drinking bouts, Baldwin physically abuses Mazzello and manipulates him into remaining silent about his situation. But when Wood cottons on to what's happening, the boys put their heads together and hatch a fantastique solution to Mazzello's devastating dilemma.

I love films that mix fantasy and dark reality. They are rarely successful financially ("Lawn Dogs" is a similar example), but they are usually original and intriguing.

The drunk Baldwin is shot from a low, child's perspective and his head is deliberately lopped off below the top of frame. This device allows us to judge him purely by his actions and as a totally physicalized beast. Both Wood and Mazzello are excellent, and they pull us effortlessly into their dark, frightening world.

The "radio flyer" of the title is a small red wagon kids transport their belongings in. Here it transports a dream.

Seriously interesting stuff.