Movie Review: Kepler's Dream (2017)

Kepler's Dream - USA - Family Drama - Not Rated (PG)Based on the book by Juliet BellDirected by Amy GlazerStarring Isabella Blake-Thomas, Holland Taylor, Steven Michael Quezada, Esperanza Fermin, David Hunt, Sean Patrick Flanery, Stafford Douglas, Kelly Lynch, Kelly Hu
Kepler's Dream comes off like it wants to be a Disney family movie from the 70s, but it unfortunately lacks the fun of those movies.
Ella is an 11 year old girl living with her separated mother. Unfortunately her mother has leukemia, but there is a stem cell treatment that shows promise. Having to be confined to the hospital for the treatment leaves Ella, whose father is absent and avoiding of her calls, with nowhere to stay other than with a grandmother she's never met who lives in an isolated farmhouse in New Mexico filled with antiques, rare books and peacocks but has all the warmth of a hotel concierge in the off season. The only connection she has to her grandmother is her father and a thing called the Moon which a mathematician named Kepler wrote about in a very rare volume in grandmother's library.
When I saw this film was available the first thing that stood out to me and drew me to it was the presence of Holland Taylor in it. A wonderful actress who brings a quirky charm to any role and in her 70s simply looks fantastic. With Kelly Lynch and Kelly Hu along for the ride this film has more notable names than is usual for the movies I often review. But even with Holland Taylor at the wheel and the others along for the ride, it was not an enjoyable ride.
There is occasional humor, occasion tearful moments, and hence that's its problem out of the gate is too much occasional this and that. Filled with awkward and uncomfortable moments in a fish out of water story it lacks any real flow. It picks up here and lingers there and even though it eventually reaches its destination, a bit abruptly, it was exhausting getting there for a 90 minute movie.
At its core this is a story about reconnecting. About lost and eroded connections and how rediscovering those, perhaps in a new light, will lead you to find your way. This is a story for teens and young children, but it feels like it wants to play connect the dot for the viewer to get the picture. For a youth film, I don't know if that's a good idea.
Holland Taylor naturally handles her role with finesse and brings real character to a role that could have been over or under played is lesser hands. Isabella Blake-Thomas as the central character of Ella soars, especially as a young actress, in a complex role handling humor, emotion and her character's awkward moments equally well. The standout performance for me was Sean Patrick Flanery as Ella's father bringing a very real character into the film, that unfortunately it was begging for and didn't get enough of him.
I would give a film 3 Fingers for telling a complete story, but part of that is telling it in an entertaining and satisfactory fashion, which this does not.
My Rating: 2 Fingers Plus; that's 5 out of 10 for IMDbers.
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Leomark Studios' Kepler's Dream Page