It's been a while since a trailer threw me completely. The intent of a trailer is to entice the viewer in to seeing the film, to tickle your curiosity. The trailer for The Book of Henry did this admirably. Like a magician's sleight of hand, it provided misdirection too. Having seen the film, I left thinking that that was not what the trailer implied. Hats off to  editor, Kevin Stitt.

The plot synopsis on IMDb.com, written by the distributors, Focus Features lays out the plot without spoilers:

Sometimes things are not always what they seem, especially in the small suburban town where the Carpenter family lives. Single suburban mother Susan Carpenter (played by Naoimi Watts) works as a waitress at a diner, alongside feisty family friend Sheila (Sarah Silverman). Her younger son Peter (Jacob Tremblay, who we last saw in Room) is a playful 8-year-old. Taking care of everyone and everything in his own unique way is Susan's older son Henry (Jaden Lieberher), age 11. Protector to his adoring younger brother and tireless supporter of his often self-doubting mother - and, through investments, of the family as a whole - Henry blazes through the days like a comet. Susan discovers that the family next door, which includes Henry's kind classmate Christina, has a dangerous secret - and that Henry has devised a surprising plan to help. As his brainstormed rescue plan for Christina takes shape in thrilling ways, Susan finds herself at the centre of it.

This is Colin Trevorrow's second feature and he has crafted a warm, charming, sometimes despair-filled film that ultimately brings a message of hope. Good triumphs over evil in the end, as it should in most films.  

Critics have been very harsh in their reviews. Some decry being emotionally manipulated! Is that not the whole point of going to see a film? Audience reactions are more favourable.

My reaction? I cried. Twice.

A very enjoyable and competent film: 3.5 out of 5

I gave 'The Book of Henry' 7 stars, but would love to have given it more. It really is an unusual movie, and I'm not talking about the subject matter. I'm talking about the flow of the movie. It has two distinct, very different halves, separated by some moments of gut-wrenching tragedy that will have all but the most cynical reaching for the Kleenex.

The first and most enjoyable part of the movie introduces the characters - a single mum, her two sons, her good-hearted but rough-around-the edges-friend and the girl next door, who just might be dealing with some problems of her own. The movie does a good job of this and we really develop an affection for these people. Then tragedy strikes and the movie suddenly veers off into an extremely ridiculous and far-fetched plot line involving the mother and the eponymous Book of Henry. It's silly and unbelievable and if you are able to put yourself in the mother's shoes and imagine yourself acting as she does, you will agree. You just wouldn't.

Fortunately for the movie, by the time the silliness kicks in we have enough emotional investment with the characters to carry us through to the end and actually enjoy the show. Acting throughout is good. Jaeden Lieberher and Jacob Tremblay shine. The adults are good too.

It's cliched. It's dumb in places. It's moving and thoroughly engaging in others. In short, it's seriously flawed, but it's enjoyable and despite the silly second half, the ending is satisfying if, again, a little unbelievable. I'm glad I watched it.

In the bonus track of the DVD of "The Book of Henry," the director Colin Trevorrow described how the narrative was "breaking all the rules of screen writing." Indeed, it broke the rules so badly that the results were disastrous to the degree that this may be a new low in Hollywood filmmaking.

The broken rules led to a movie with that was split in half. The first part tells the story of an eleven-year-old kid who is a genius. He is so far advanced both intellectually and emotionally that he manages the tawdry and troubled life of his mother, plus attempts an intervention with the girl next door who is apparently being abused by her stepfather. This strand of the story stretches credibility beyond belief, especially in the family dynamic of the single mom, a waitress and wannabe writer of children's stories, and the two little boys. It doesn't help that the girl next door, who is a schoolmate in the same class as Henry, looks at least five years older than the little genius.

But nothing can prepare the viewer for the ridiculous second half of the film, wherein the narrative takes a turn towards a mystery-suspense story. The child prodigy is killed off by cancer, yet leaves detailed instructions for his mother on how to kill the next door neighbor by committing the perfect crime.

This far-fetched and stupid screenplay was an abomination.

In the cast interviews section on the DVD, actress Naomi Watts described her character's co-dependent relationship with little Henry by using fractured English grammar: "He grows her up," says Watts, and this takes the form of little Henry managing the affairs of his incompetent mom and caring for his little brother in the absence of a responsible parent. Watts' character, Susan Carpenter, whiles away her life with video games, cavorting with her lazy, alcoholic co-worker, and preparing a meal that is comprised exclusively of desserts. The film makes no mention of the father of the two little boys. Of course, it doesn't, as it breaks all of the rules of screen writing.

The filmmakers were obviously unaware that Susan Carpenter's behavior was so appalling that she was just as culpable of child abuse as Mr. Sickleman next door. Not only does Susan's character get a free pass, but she is even awarded custody of a new child by the end of the film. Trapped in a perpetual infantile state, Susan is incapable of functioning in an adult world. One has to feel sorry for the kind doctor who was attracted to Susan. Little does he know what lies ahead for him in that relationship, especially when she gets going in the kitchen.

The screenplay is also filled with one-liners that not only lack credibility, but lapse into comedy. Susan tells her younger son prior to the school talent show, "Don't panic, stay calm, and remember your Lamaze breathing." The producers appearing on the bonus track of the DVD tried to hype the film as a study of good versus evil and the triumph of the "human spirit." But it was a triumph of the human spirit for the audience members to get through this stinker without resorting to Lamaze breathing techniques in response to a sleazy and jaw-droppingly bad piece of cinema.