Dear Frankie MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +1 Content: -1 1/2

In a dramatic story, single mother Lizzie Morrison (Emily Mortimer) tries to protect her nine-year-old deaf son, Frankie (Jack McElhone), from his birth father. She makes up excuses for why they have constantly moved since he was born. They finally settle in the Scottish sea village of Aberdeen. Realizing that Frankie, who barely remembers his father, desperately desires to have a relationship with him, Lizzie creates a fictitious father who is a seaman on the HMS Accra. She proceeds to write Frankie on his behalf, telling him of the great adventures on the high seas. This is just what a boy would want to hear, and he pours his energy into writing replies. Lizzie realizes that as long as this fictitious character remains at sea, Frankie can have a relationship with this father. But when Frankie learns from a boy at school that the HMS Accra will be docking in Aberdeen, Lizzy is forced to face the consequences of her years of lying.

Unfortunately, far too many boys today grow up without a father. Dear Frankie deals with this reality. Frankies entire upbringing revolves around a lie devised by his mother. His love for the sea and fascination with boats and ocean life is fostered because of his desire to sense a closeness to a father figure that does not exist. This lie reaches new depths when Lizzie finds a complete stranger to portray Frankies father. This man (Gerard Butler) becomes an accomplice to the deception. Every person whom Frankie should be able to trust plays a part in the lie. The one person that is truly genuine with Frankie is his mean-spirited schoolmate, Ricky Munroe (Sean Brown). He, without knowing it, speaks the truth and inadvertently helps Frankie in the long run. Dear Frankie receives a negative rating due to obscene language and profanity and the portrayal of abusive manipulation.

Preview Reviewer: Brian Hughes
Distributor: Miramax