The family has great chemistry and the characterization of Boyle is charming. While the various plotlines trod familiar territory of other coming of age type shows/movies, Moone Boy operates on a level above the obvious. The chosen points of emphasis always reveal funny truisms about youth and life at the bottom wrung of a big family. Also the imaginary friend mythos is highly entertaining, allowing O'dowd to exercise his quirky improvisational skillset.