Cady's Take:

Frankie (Jack McElhone) is a deaf and mute, 9-year-old boy who lives with his mother Lizzie (Emily Mortimer) and grandmother. He has not seen his father since the age of two. Lizzie has told him that his dad is a sailor on a ship named Accra , which is not true. Frankie writes to him diligently, tracking his travels on a huge wall map. We find out early on that his father was not a good man, so his mother intercepts the letters and answers them herself. Frankie's letters are important to her she states, "because it's the only way she can hear his voice."

When the ship on which his father is supposed to serve suddenly docks at a port nearby, Frankie expects to see his long-lost dad. Desperate, Lizzie enlists her friend Marie (Sharon Small) to help her find a man willing to pose as the boy's father for a day. Enter Mr. Rugged, Brooding Seaman ("The Phantom of the Opera's" Gerard Butler).

The story explores the complications and complexities that always come with telling lies. But, "Dear Frankie" goes out of its way to show that mom is doing it out of good intent, her deep love for Frankie and the need to protect him. And, if you have to have a fake dad, you couldn't ask for somebody better than Gerald Butler!

This is a hidden treasure that is remarkably fresh, sweet and endearing. There really are no surprises or twists; Dear Frankie simply lets us live with the characters, which turns out to be reward enough.

"Dear Frankie" is one of those movies you read about, think "I should see that", and then will probably never end up watching. Let me tell you - that would be a big mistake. This is a sweet and thoughtful movie that asks us when is it ok to tell a lie, what does it mean to be a parent, and how do we live with the lies our parents tell us.

Jack McElhone plays Frankie, a young deaf/mute who aches for the father he has never met. His mother has been corresponding with Frankie as his father for years, to protect him from the ugly truth that his father was basically no-good. Frankie and his mother move often, and Frankie has no idea that this is because his father is looking for them, and this adds a nice layer to the story.

McElhone gives a startling performance, one with few words (he speaks only once at the end of the film). I like Emily Mortimer as his mother very much. I noticed when perusing IMDB that the two of them also starred in "Young Adam" together so I might have to move that film up a little in my movie list. There was a real connection between them onscreen that made their relationship authentic.

It seems like lately we have had a lot of movies that were more about the characters than the story. "Dear Frankie" is in that same vein, and I recommend it for anyone who has ever longed to see someone they loved - for the first, or the last, time.