A Kid Like Jake

Alex (Claire Danes) and Greg Wheeler (Jim Parsons) are loving parents of their son Jake in New York. He's a psychiatrist who avoids confrontation. She's a former lawyer staying home to care for Jake despite shade from her mother (Ann Dowd). They send Jake to kindergarten run by Judy (Octavia Spencer). Judy reports some difficulties with Jake wearing dresses as the loving parents struggle with this gender issue.

This is a story about Jake. Jake should be the lead. Jake holds the more compelling drama. Jake is rarely seen and even less heard from. This is a story about Jake without Jake. The major dramatic event comes in the second half. The first half is mostly the parents tippy toeing the issue and the movie is infected with the tippy toeing. Instead of immersing in the drama, it walks around it and avoids it. This could be a great movie if it's about the kid and not the parents.

Good subject, but just didn't learn much or feel much of a connection to the issue and especially to Jake who maybe occupied five minutes of an 89 minute movie. Seemed to be more about the parents personal issues so maybe should have been titled "The Parents of Jake". Seems many other 5 star & lower viewer's comments had similar thoughts.

With parents and teachers like these, that kid doesn't stand a chance. This movie could be a documentary on how to destroy a child's future. This is a household where the parents are at best confused, and probably too immature to raise a child. There are no boundaries, no expectations and no one has the courage to put a disruptive non conforming child in his place. You want a messed up kid? Follow this example.

I think if you're somewhat interested in the subject don't let the bad reviews scare you away. It's a decent drama and I did like the acting from both of the leading stars. It is clearly not about Jake but for me that was already obvious from the trailer. It's about parenting and trying to figure out what is best you can do for your kid, I think it addressed valid insecurities, worries and questions and feels like watching real-life problems of the parents

It's 2018, so it was only a matter or time before a movie like this was made. I think much like what this movie is about, it struggles to find what it wants to be. I don't think this movie is a fair representation of what a family goes through when their kid struggles with finding their identity. I don't disagree with making a movie like this and raising awareness, but this was poorly executed. Don't get lost in the higher profiles actors and be fooled that this good.