The Good Son (1993) - 4 stars out of 10

The Good Son (1993) - 4 stars out of 10

“The Good Son” was not a very good idea.  This PG drama starring Macaulay Culkin is not like “Home Alone” and “My Girl”; in fact, Culkin’s father insisted that the studio use his son in this role to prove his ability to play darker roles.  Why does America’s beloved 10-year-old have to play “darker roles”?  While the rating indicates that the writers kept this film clean enough for families to watch together, I cannot imagine a parent who could justify allowing their child to watch (and probably later imitate) their hero as he kills a dog and causes a massive traffic incident using pranks similar to those that popularized the Home Alone franchise.  This would have probably scarred me as a child, so thank goodness for the good parental judgment that prevented this film from being a hit.  Aside from the inappropriateness of its target audience, the quality of the film is average.  It is a simple story with a predictable revelation at the end with child actors who perform at the level that you would expect of children.  Probably the most interesting part of this film is watching 11-year-old Elijah Wood.  He is such a recognizable actor, but it is crazy to see him at such a young age!  Wendy Crewson also delivers a nice role as the mother, but the film just isn’t that interesting.  I would recommend seeing this film for Wood as a child but don’t mistake the film’s rating as a guarantee for a fun family film.