December Boys review

Daniel Radcliffe has his first significant non-Harry Potter role in December Boys, a sentimental Australian feature which would undoubtedly not be given a UK release were it not for the participation of the likeable young star. Teen fans flocking to see their hero are likely to find his new project a little dull.

Radcliffe plays Maps, one of the four titular boys who live in an austere Catholic orphanage in the remote Australian outback (the film's title comes from the fact that they all celebrate their birthday in the same month). A benefactor donates to the institution and Maps and co find themselves shuttled off on holiday to a tiny community in a glorious cove on the edge of the sea.

Here they are housed with a kindly, religious, older couple: a French woman and her mysterious motorcycling partner live next door, and a beautiful teenage girl pique's Maps' interest. The four youngsters have ony one thing on their mind: will anyone in the vicinity be interested in adopting them?

This is a coming-of-age film which has hints (but never reaches the heights) of similarly-themed works such as The Summer of 42 and Stand By Me. The four have a variety of adventures: from snooping on the females undressing, to snaring a shark and finding a spooky cave dwelling. But the story, based on the book by Michael Noonan, never really catches fire. Their adventures aren't really that adventurous, there's never a real sense of danger or edge to the plot, and too many musical montages get in the way of proceedings. It's perfectly pleasant to look at, but there are no surprises here.

Radcliffe holds his own amongst a superior younger cast. As the eldest of the troupe he is also the moodiest, but wisely comes across as a member of the team rather than the star of the show. His awkward sexual awakening scenes are well played and his Australian accent believable, but the whole project has the feel of a gentle tryout for the future, and it's a world away from his most famous creation.

Paul Hurley