Tiger Eyes

Great movie about loss and family. Highly recommended.

Once again Willa plays a believable character. Not comic book genre. (Nothing against that genre). Very touching from start to finish. The acting and storylines compel the viewer's curiosity in the outcome of their lives. A follow up movie if written and directed by the same group of professionals with the characters played by the same actors...wow, a blockbuster. Really really moving. A growing up story for sure. Movies like these imprint a wonder of what's next. Like, don't end now! What does her future hold? And with who? The mental anguish of personal loss/suffering portrayed believable and saddening as it mimics life. Would watch it again.

Sadly, this film is proof that good books can't be always translated into good films.

To me, this film is nothing like the book. There is no mood set, the cast is totally wrong---the parents look like they could be the brother/sister of Davey, not parents. All poignant dialogue and scenes from the book are removed. There is no building of scenes, and they just did not translate grief except for a few brief moments. They moved and shifted characters and didn't have enough flash back sequences to unfold the mystery of Davey's grief, like in the book.

Sadly, I was thoroughly disappointed all around. The fact they changed the ending as well---nothing was done right--they showed no growth of Davey as we see in the book.

There are brief moments where you can really feel the grief, but sadly, with no build up, or even getting to know Davey, it falls too short.

I asked my wife for her opinion before watching this movie. She told me that as a teenager she used to read all the Judy Blume books, and that it's probably more a movie for a younger audience. I gave it a shot anyway, and to be honest I regret it. It's a boring movie, and yes it's clearly something a younger audience will like more than the average movie watcher. I already had my suspicions when I heard that irritating slow piano music between scenes, it's a typical thing for bad movies. It's almost a signature for lame movies. I won't say the acting was bad, just average, but the story is one of those where you will fight to stay awake. Not for me.

Davey Wexler (Willa Holland) is struggling after her father was killed. Her mother Gwen (Amy Jo Johnson) has withdrawn. She, her mother and little brother Jason move from Atlantic City to New Mexico to stay with Gwen's older sister Bitsy Kronick (Cynthia Stevenson) and her husband Walter. At the new school, she's befriended by partygirl Jane Albertson (Elise Eberle). While walking alone in a canyon, she is found by native American Wolf who connects with her. She tells him her name is Tiger.

This movie is based on Judy Blume's novel directed by her son Lawrence Blume. It's a teen girl struggling with some difficult issues. The difficulties are large and varied. It's a bit scattered. Willa Holland is quite effective holding the film together. Her performance adds the sensitivity needed although I'm not sure the material is used to its most effectiveness.