This is an often entertaining film with a rather interesting premise. One doesn't usually find a movie with such a serious theme (searching for God's existence) that features a ten-year-old boy as the lead character. While the subject of a boy missing his grandfather so much that he begins to question religion sounds depressing, the film actually balances the serious tone with lighthearted and often funny moments. Told from the boy's point of view, the film uses his voice over narration to guide us through the story. Therein, however, lies a problem for the film. That narration -- and the boy's regular dialogue -- often sound way too advanced for his age. While the TV show "The Wonder Years" got away with doing the same, that was because the show was told from the perspective of adult hindsight. Here it seems to be more of a gimmick and comes across as unbelievable.
While some viewers might not even notice it, would a ten-year-old really comment that a toy used to be magic to him, but now it's all just plastic and paint? He further states that while some of that magic still remains, it lessens every year and he's worried that he might not even remember it when he has kids. To us, that sounds a bit too contrived and adult-like. Most kids of that age are concerned with today, not with what will be twenty years from now. Even so, young Joseph Cross, who makes his motion picture debut with this film, pretty much manages to pull of this role and is always engaging to watch. For the most part his motivations seem heartfelt which proves he does a good job in his role. The rest of the cast is good, but not great, including Rosie O'Donnell in yet another role where she plays an amused, but wise character. The parents (played by Denis Leary and Dana Delaney) are pretty much symbolic. Not given much to do except occasionally look worried, they easily could have been played by anyone.
The film makers probably signed on those actors, like O'Donnell, to give the film a little star appeal because without them, the film would be filled with relative unknowns. All of that being the case, the weight of carrying the movie falls onto Cross' shoulders and he handles that "pressure" well. The film has its occasional touching moments, such as Joshua always wanting it to snow since that's what his grandfather earlier stated was proof of God's existence, and when Joshua finally accepts an eager, overweight boy as his friend. An interesting project that's moderately successful, "Wide Awake" is seemingly stuck in genre limbo and may have a hard time attracting an audience who won't be sure what the movie's really about. While the "too old for his years" dialogue slightly undermines the film's efforts, it still comes across as a decent little production. We give it a 6 out of 10.
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