Come Away Home

Movie review by Beth Pratt, Common Sense Media
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Common Sense says

age 9+

Touching movie about the importance of family.

PG 2005 102 minutes
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Parents say

age 10+

Based on 4 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Annie acts like a typical sullen tween when she finds herself shipped off to spend the summer with her grandfather. She sneaks out of the house, attempts to run away, and takes the boat she promised her grandfather that she wouldn't touch. However, she soon learns that her actions have consequences and makes amends for her behavior. There's a frightening scene where Annie almost drowns, as well as a spooky scene in a dark wooded area. A character is devastated by the death of his daughter. Annie becomes upset when she finds out her parents are considering putting Grandfather Donald in a retirement home -- you may want to have a conversation with your kids about the different ways people take care of their elderly relatives.

Community Reviews

Annie15
Annie15 Adult
December 4, 2018
age 10+

Lov! My favorite movie

In my opinion its my favorite movie. I watched it as a teen and loved it. I 1st watched it at school on free time on the internet and it just became a favorite. Parts are funny and I laughed and it's a movie I can really get into. I think it's a movie teens would enjoy most cuz of Annie's attitude at the beginning of the movie. It has a great plot about the importance of family. I really like how its summer too and starting out on the last day of school makes it so cheerful. This movie always makes me smile. I have seen it many times. It has an easy to follow storyline and I really enjoyed Gregg Russell in it esp. how he sang at the end. I also really like the rest of the cast too Jordan-claire, Lea, Paul Dooley. Martin Mull, Kristen Renton, Thomas Gibson and Sonya. It has a great story, nice cheerful and realist plot and for its special cuz it brings me back to the 1st time I seen this at school in 2014 when I was a young teen. A+ for me

This title has:

Great messages
nobbsy
nobbsy Adult
June 8, 2013
age 9+

She Really Screams a Lot!

A standard formula for movies is: an irritating, spoiled young girl from a big city is sent away to live in a rural location. While there, she becomes less irritating and finally actually likeable, or even lovable. Usually there a horse is involved in the transformation. There is no horse in this movie and the girl remains irritating for a long time. Too long. She screams at everyone all the time. Where her doddering old Grandpa opens his bathroom door and sees her wrapped in a towel, she screams at him. When he turns away she screams at him again, insisting that he come back and shut the bathroom door. When he comes back, to close the door, she screams at him again. Later when she falls out of a motorboat, she screams at the guy who saved her life. By that time I was sort of wishing she had drowned. Eventually she starts to mellow out and act like a normal human being, a side of her that remains hidden during the first half of the movie. Another problem with this film is Annie's parents, especially her mother, who acts like an unbalanced shrew during 95% of the movie. Not much family value in that! I watched this movie twice, and liked it much more the second time, knowing the irritating girl was going to change. Some viewers might not last that long.
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

It's finally summer, and 12-year-old Annie Lamm (Jordan-Claire Green) has big plans: hanging out in New York with friends and flirting with boys. She's horrified when her parents (Lea Thompson and Thomas Gibson) ship her off to Hilton Head to stay with her Grandfather Donald (Paul Dooley), whom she barely knows. Grandfather's "beautiful house right by the beach" is in bad shape, and Annie couldn't have less in common with him. Bored out of her mind, she decides to take a bus back to the city, but her escape fails and she ends up back at her grandfather's house. His ability to forgive her makes Annie see him in a new light. As she starts to make more of an effort to get to know her grandfather, she finds that they have more in common than she thought and she gains a new respect for him. But just as she's settling in, her parents arrive intent on putting Grandfather Donald in a retirement home. Annie must find a way to convince them to let her grandfather stay in the place he loves.

Is It Any Good?

Kids will definitely relate to Annie, who is a little bratty at the beginning of the movie. Like any tween, she wants to spend her summer hanging out with friends, and she resents that she's being shipped off. Adults will empathize with Annie's parents, who face the dilemma of an elderly parent who isn't ready to give up his independent life. Everyone will enjoy the gorgeous South Carolina setting, and those familiar with Hilton Head will get a kick out of seeing local legend Gregg Russell as a carpenter with a secret.

Overall, COME AWAY HOME is a fantastic film to share with your kids. It's refreshingly free of profanity, sex, and violence, and the message about the importance of family is always a valuable one. Warning: Although the movie ends on a positive note, you may want to keep the tissues handy.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what Annie learns about herself by the end of the summer, and what she learns from her grandfather. Why does Grandfather Donald's gift mean so much to Annie? Kids may be inspired to talk to older family members and find out what fascinating stories they have to share. Some children may even decide to take up chess!

Movie Details

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