saved4eternity I remember being so disappointed that this film never made it into my local theater after seeing the trailer for it played there more than once. Obviously, the theater management did not think such a sweet film, an innocent film, could capture much of an audience. They were wrong. It captured me wholeheartedly. Not only is the movie cinematically beautiful, with a small town backdrop much like that in My Dog Skip, but the characters seem to have been dropped right out of the 1940's. Yes, some might call it schmaltzy, sugary, even overdone in some respects. Lily Jane's overdone accent I found particularly annoying. But Hollywood has done its best to give us the dark side, the horrific side, the characters filled with malice and malevolence. I find this film so refreshing and well acted as well. Using mostly unknowns makes the film feel even more comfortable. The characters are on an even playing field and each contributes more than his share. Children on Their Birthdays tells a simple story of growing up, mending fences, finding our way in a world which can be a very cynical place. But the children here give us hope that if their innocence can translate into tenderheartedness as adults, maybe we have a shot at a better tomorrow after all.

HPHPlayers This is a great Truman Capote story about a grifter that gets away with stealing money from poor country folk and an odd little girl who gets run over by the bus that's supposed to take her to Hollywood. It also contains perceptive observations about race relations in Depression era Alabama.The movie version has the horrible moppet catch the bad guy, return the stolen loot and get on the bus for fame and fortune. To add insult to injury Celine Dion sings over the closing credits. The racial themes are all but obliterated.Fans of Capote be warned that none of his wit or satire was retained for this film that plays like an after-school special.

Karlknight This was a movie the whole family can watch. It is refreshing to see a movie that was very entertaining without an "R" Rating. I think the movie was fun. It had romance, comedy, drama, sadness all done well. The relationship between the characters had great romantic chemistry without being sexual. There were many funny parts such as when the kids were driving the truck and caught up to the crooks. There was drama when the townspeople loaded into trucks to go on a hunting spree, but there were no shot fired and bloodshed. It was sad when everyone was waiting for the transportation to Hollywood and the Pastor came and gave her the book. The movie reminded me of a simpler time when the town mechanic is also the sheriff and you call the police for missing roses.

ihouri0000 This movie was shallow and cotton-candy like. I agree with the reviewer who wrote a review in another website who said that he has a "fantasy that every copy of this movie will magically disappear." I have that same wish. Many other films are more worthwhile to see than this film, which was focused on an extremely pompous and obnoxiously showy teenage girl.This nuisance(the actress who played Lily Jane Bobbit) did a lousy job in this movie, she did such a terrible job faking a southern accent. The movie was overall corny but she was even worse. She tried to cover up her lack of acting talent in this movie with pretentiousness and a pompous display. This girl is very pretentious and shallow and conceited! I think all she wants to do on-screen is show-off. Save room on TV and film for real, genuine people talented in acting please!(instead of her)