Paper Planes (2015)
Certified: U
Duration: 96 minutes
Directed by: Robert Connolly
Starring: Sam Worthington, Ed Oxenbould, Ena Imai, Nicholas Bakopoulos-Cooke, Julian Dennison, David Wenham, Deborah Mailman, Peter Rowsthorn, Terry Norris
KRS Releasing Ltd
Paper Planes is an Australian family-oriented film. Director Robert Connolly has made a delightful movie that I recommend to all families out there.
The difference from the Hollywood counterparts is not only that it is set in Australia; it comes with a wide-eyed spirit that is very palpable.
Ed Oxenbould plays Dylan, a young 11-year-old boy who lives with his widower father (Sam Worthington) in a part of Australia that seems to be cut off from the rest of the country.
When he discovers a paper planes competition at his school that could lead him to the Australian Paper Planes championship Dylan is mesmerised.
He is abysmally bad at first but soon starts getting better. This is mostly due to the help he gets from his teacher (Peter Rowsthorn), advice from his father, a new friend and also his grandfather.
A delightful movie that I recommend to all families out there
Along the way he will face many stumbling blocks, including rivalry with another boy who wants to win at all costs.
Oxenbould really shines in his role as he takes us with him on this wide-eyed adventure. He has the perfect conduit as the youngster has a charm that is not too soppy, not overtly sweet but with just the right enthusiastic approach to make him really likeable. He propels Paper Planes to new heights.
Meanwhile, Terry Norris as Dylan’s grandfather is spectacularly funny as the veteran pilot who is not ready torelinquish his flying dreams despite his age.
Ena Imai, who plays Kimi the Japanese competitor in the tournament and becomes friends with Dylan, is very adorable and leads to a relationship with Dylan that I can imagine will leave the young audience all starry eyed.
Her idea that creating something beautiful takes precedence over winning should be words to live by and the young audience should have a lot to think about when leaving the theatre.
Sam Worthington is strong in presence but knows the screen belongs to his young co-star and gives him ample space to take over.
Robert Connolly keeps the film flowing as Dylan progresses from one stage to another, jumping over one hurdle only to find something else.
However, Connolly knows his audience well. He harnesses their expectations as he plays with the characters who delightfully satisfy both young and old alike.
I can just imagine that, after watching this movie, classrooms and homes will be all awash with paper planes flying high and low . . . and it’s not always going to be the kids who are throwing them.