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'Millions': A touching urban fable

By HAP ERSTEIN
Palm Beach Post

Millions would be an entertaining family film, no matter who directed it.

What makes this British Christmastime fable so startling, however, is that it comes from Danny Boyle, the purveyor of such grisly fare as the drug-obsessed Trainspotting and the zombie epic 28 Days Later.

Fox Searchlight 'Millions' A The verdict: A buoyant, sunny family comedy about two motherless boys and a sudden financial windfall. Director: Danny Boyle Starring: Alexander Nathan Etel, Lewis Owen McGibbon, James Nesbitt, Daisy Donovan, Christopher Fulford Run time: 97 minutes Release date: March 25, 2005 Rating: PG for thematic elements, language, some peril and mild sensuality. See showtimes On the web Official movie site View the trailer   -- Trailers require Quicktime Rate "Millions"   Go see it   Make it a matinee   Wait to rent   Don't bother Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

With a sense of childlike wonder, Boyle presents the story of the Cunningham family, a working-class dad and two small boys suffering from the recent death of their mother. The movie begins with fanciful fast-forward images of a new suburban housing development where the Cunninghams move to start a new life.

Before long, when 7-year-old Damian (the delightfully natural Alex Etel) takes refuge in a makeshift packing-crate playhouse near some train tracks, an apparent miracle occurs as a valise stuffed with pound notes falls from the sky, complicating his life.

Miracle or not, 9-year-old brother Anthony (an equally impressive Lewis McGibbon) wises Damian up to the realities of taxes, which would deplete their windfall. So they agree to keep the money secret from the world. Or as secret as two young boys can be, which is not very.

The movie has religious overtones, albeit tongue-in-cheek, such as when Damian is visited by a host of saints, whose histories he can rattle off with ease. When St. Francis of Assisi — a favorite of Damian's — urges him to help the poor, the boy buys dinner for the homeless at Pizza Hut.

Curiously far-fetched plot points only add to the tale's fable quality. Britain is allegedly on the verge of converting from pounds to euros, oddly enough on Christmas Day, so the boys either have to spend the hundreds of thousands in old currency quickly or figure out a way to deposit it in a bank without arousing suspicion.

Eventually, the story darkens, as the money turns out to be robbery loot tossed from a train and the gruff perpetrator comes looking for his stash. The screenplay by Frank Cottrell Boyce has other inventive twists, goes out on several clever limbs but never makes a false step and climaxes at an endearing Nativity pageant at the boys' school.

Although the youngsters carry the film, they are well supported by James Nesbitt (Bloody Sunday) as their flummoxed, suddenly single dad and Daisy Donovan as the charity lady who becomes his girlfriend.

Ultimately, Millions attempts to persuade us that money can be a complication in our lives that we are better off without. Perhaps, though it sounds like the philosophy of someone without much dough. Nevertheless, conveying that message has brought a transformation to Boyle that results in his sunniest, most audience-friendly film yet.