August Rush is the story of an orphaned boy (played by Freddie Highmore) in search of his parents that he "knows" are out there looking for him. He innately lives and breathes music, though for the past ten years he has never had an opportunity to play any musical instrument, and lives in a remote boys' home which is less than ideal.

The movie starts out with a chance meeting by a talented cellist (Keri Russell) and the lead in a rock band (Jonathan Rhys Myers). Late one evening after a concert by her and band performance by him, the two meet on a roof overlooking some part of New York City, while a man plays harmonica on the street below.

It's all enchanting: the perfect night, the perfect song, and the perfect stranger. The two are torn apart the next day. They make attempts to find each other, without success. Nine months later, a baby boy is born and signed over to child services, with both parents unaware.

This is where the movie takes an illogical turn. In 1997 in a New York Hospital there would be protocol regarding adoption. It would be very difficult for the girl's parent to forge her signature and trick her by telling her the baby had died, unless more people were in on it.

Now, ten years on, the boy hits the road in search of his parents. He stumbles upon such characters as "the wizard," played by Robin Williams. The wizard is a guy who couldn't make it in the music business himself, and now lives in an abandoned theater. Street children play music for money which they turn over to the wizard, a very creepy, dirty (as in needing a bath), opportunist guy. You feel sorry for him but you know he's bad news.

Through some bumbling situations the boy ends up at the Julliard School of Music. He's preparing to direct his own piece, to be performed in Central Park, hoping his parents will hear it and be drawn straight to him.

Many reviews I read of the movie were not favorable, although I enjoyed it and found it a bit of a "crier." Not a big crier, just a dab of tissue will do. It is far-fetched, but if you want reality, you're probably living it. You'll find yourself rooting for everybody to find each other.

You do have to fill in the blanks somewhat; you get an end without seeing the end. If you're feeling melancholy and a bit blue, go see this. If you aren't into violence with heads being lopped off, go see this.

If you want an unrealistic story that couldn't possibly be based on anything that actually has or could happen, go see this. And if you want to see Felicity's hair as we always remember it before the "haircut," go see this.

Copyright 2007 Metropolitan Community College