We have here a creative coming-of-age story with a message that challenges viewers to slow down and enjoy the little moments of life that make it worth living.
The titular Jeremy Fink lives with his librarian mother in an apartment next door to his best friend Lizzy Muldoun. Both have lost a parent and have grown up together - they have a very deep-rooted friendship. As Jeremy's thirteenth birthday approaches, he receives a box with the label "To Jeremy Fink: the Meaning of Life" in the mail from his deceased father. But the box is locked four times, and none of Lizzy's ideas are working to get it open.
To make a long story short, the two end up being assigned community service by the local police department. Their services involve running errands and deliveries for a very eccentric gentleman by the name of Oswald. Over time, the pair learn various tidbits of information from the recipients of Oswald's deliveries, and slowly piece together the puzzle of the "Meaning of Life."
The spot-on interaction and behavior of the almost-teenage actors is enjoyable to both children and adults. There is plenty of good natured humor that everyone can appreciate, and there is enough serious, real life dilemmas to balance out the feel of the movie. The plot is well paced, and while it's no Hollywood blockbuster, it certainly is well done technically and emotionally.
Overall, this movie takes a story that is enjoyable on its own, and makes something more out of it. It gives something for viewers to take away after they leave the theater - something that hopefully will help them learn to enjoy the small things in life that make us who we are. I give this movie a nine-out-of-ten rating because it has a more lasting impact than just some crazy action scenes and special effects. It actually has meaning and relevance for your everyday human being.
