Little Manhattan Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
Nothing's as big as your first love.
Ten-year-old Gabe was just a normal kid growing up in Manhattan, untill Rosemary Telesco walked into his life actually into his karate class. But, before Gabe can tell Rosemary how he feels, she tells him she will not being going to public school any more. Gabe has a lot more to learn about life,love and girls.
| Josh Hutcherson | Gabe |
| Charlie Ray | Rosemary |
| Bradley Whitford | Adam |
| Cynthia Nixon | Leslie |
| Willie Garson | Ralph |
| Tonye Patano | Birdie |
| J. Kyle Manzay | Master Coles |
| Josh Pais | Ronny |
| John Dossett | Mickey Telesco |
| Talia Balsam | Jackie Telesco |
| Jonah Meyerson | Sam |
| Michael Bush | Max |
| Brian W. Aguiar | Jacob |
| Nick Cubbler | Daryl Kitzens |
| Anthony Laflamme | Tim Staples |
| Mark Levin |
7.60 out of 10 (3397 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Great movie to see with the kids
posted on 08 Aug 2009Little Manhattan was a fun ride from beginning to end. I took my wife and daughters who are 13 and 11 years old and everyone had a good time. I really lost my self in this story. It was good natured without being corny. This is the first time I saw a movie that makes me want to visit New York.With all of the mean spirited movies out today this reminds of how nice it is to enjoy a good story. I would like to see more of this kind of writing in every movie. I plan to buy the DVD for my 11 year old when it becomes available.
First Love Urbanized and Overly Precocious in Small, Fitfully Amusing Comedy
posted on 03 Jul 2009It will come as no surprise that first-time feature filmmaker Mark Levin was a producer and writer of the beloved early-1990's TV series, "The Wonder Years". The same sort of observational humor and cheeky voice-over narration is present in this small, relatively unremarkable 2005 film about the pangs of first love for a bright, sports-challenged ten-year old named Gabe, who lives in the Upper West Side with his parents, who are going through a slow-moving divorce. In the midst of his somewhat dysfunctional existence, Gabe's object of desire is Rosemary, a girl he has known since kindergarten but who suddenly becomes attractive as they partner in a karate class.The problem is that the script by Jennifer Flackett (Levin's wife) makes Gabe sound far more like an adult sitcom character than a yearning pre-adolescent, and the resulting contrivance deters the credibility of the storyline. The demi-budding romance between Gabe and Rosemary has moments of charm, especially as they travel into the forbidden territory of the West Village to find his father an apartment. Predictable elements lead the story to its inevitable ending, but it's all good-natured and almost too facile for the lack of resulting drama.The cast is serviceable. Josh Hutcherson lends a precocious intelligence to Gabe, and Charlie Ray makes Gabe's obsession understandable as Rosemary. Cynthia Nixon (Miranda on "Sex in the City") and Bradley Whitford (Josh Lyman on "The West Wing") lend unobtrusive support with their scant screen time as Gabe's parents. I frankly never heard of this movie before catching it on a United flight in November, but the 84 minutes sputter by relatively quickly with Tim Orr's crisp cinematography capturing a Manhattan that I thought existed only in Nora Ephron movies. The film also provides a nice excuse to resuscitate the 1970 Edison Lighthouse chestnut, "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)".
A little boy and girl falling in love in the big city.
posted on 27 Jun 2009So I was watching this a few nights ago on HBO OnDemand at a friends house, we were really bored with nothing to do. We actually ordered this movie on accident, we were trying to rent Little Man (the Wayan's brothers newest movie). But, once the movie started we didn't turn it off. It ended up being really heartwarming. It was so fun to watch aloof Gabe try and romance Rosemary Telesco and listen to his opinions on love. It made me feel like a little kid again. Gabe was a totally honest with himself character. He was a cute little boy. Parts of the movie made me want to yell at the screen. I'm so glad we got to watch this movie, my friends and I have found a new favorite.9/10.
Reminds me of myself, only I was younger!
posted on 17 Jun 2009Love in New Yok brings back memories of my first love. Only I was 7 years-old. A young man named Gabe(Josh Huterson) meets his friend in karate class named Rosemary(Charlie Ray). They once knew each other in kindergarten, now hey go to karate class together. Those two were an item, just like me when I was in 2nd Grade. The karate teacher knew they like each other, only Gabe wasn't man-enough to show it. For Gabe it's hard because his parents are divorced, and it's his first time on knowing love. Most boys think it's gross when a girl kisses him. I would say, "WHIMPS!" I never got grossed out when my girlfriend kissed me. When Rosemary was getting a new sparring partner, Gabe thinks they were the new item. However, he was a jerk realizing that she didn't like him. He cries and cries when he hurt her. I was man enough to admit being a jerk when I called her a name I regretted. Took me two days to say I was sorry. Then she was going to a private school, and he learns that out of all the girls, she was the one he ever loved. Love is strange, it hurts, and it heals, this movie is perfect for me. Simply because it brought back memories. 4 out of 5 stars!
painful to watch, but some good moments
posted on 15 Jun 2009I will come straight out and say that I didn't like this movie. I'm not saying it's bad, I just didn't like it.There are two main reasons I found it painful--1) The main character's behavior is so embarrassing to watch, because he doesn't know how to handle his romantic life. Maybe it's too close to home, because I'm only 16, and I have social problems too... (at least I don't behave like he did anyway)2) I have emetophobia (the fear of vomit), and so the multiple vomit scenes were really disturbing to me (I couldn't sleep after). The vomit scenes were also unnecessary, and did not drive the plot anywhere.7/10 because it was a good movie, but not more because of the vomiting.
Just Way Too Cute!
posted on 30 Apr 2009All in all: this movie was just way too cute! The two kids were absolutely adorable, the plot line was cute, and the way the scenes were done was also way cute. Definitely the best movie of the year and the cutest movie i've ever seen! The ending was absolutely wonderful. It was kind of heartbreaking, yet kind of heartwarming. It really makes you think about love in a whole knew way; that you don't have to be older to understand what love is. The actors performances were very believable for young children, and the ending with the parents was, although a tad unbelievable, a nice set off. One happy ending, one open ending. But actually, i liked the open ending with Gabe and Rosemary. In so many movies, they give you an ending to go by, and there's no room for imagination. This movie ended in a way where you could judge the ending on your own. Overall; 10 out of 10. Great movie! Check it out if you haven't yet!
This is the cutest movie!
posted on 26 Apr 2009Little Manhattan is the cutest movie I have ever seen. My Family Loved it! When I got it on DVD, I saw it over and Over again!!!! My Parents loved it! And even my grandparents loved it! We had a family movie night, which we don't do that often, after we watched it, my grandparents kept teasing my brother about it! IT was cute. I'm thinking of showing it to my little sister when she gets a little older. (You know how kids react to Romance movies when their 9 years old!) Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett should be nominated for like 20 best director awards for bringing us one of the best (Kid) Romance movies of the year!!
so cute
posted on 04 Apr 2009With some reviews I read about Little Manhattan, people criticize it because the kids are to young to be "in love" but I see the whole premise of the movie of Gabe having feelings for the first time for a girl. I thought it was a great movie on your first crush. Watching this movie reminded me of the first time I had feelings for someone.Charlie Ray's debut on film was great and Josh Hutchenson as Gabe was great as well. Little Manhattan is definitely a great film to watch if you are just looking for something entertaining. It's cute, witty, and funny. That's all I ask for and I got it watching this movie. I definitely definitely recommend anyone to rent it with your family or whoever. It's great.
I love this movie
posted on 25 Mar 2009I live next door to the mother of the woman who created this absolutely delightful film. So, many of us in Newton got to see the film one night. I was delighted and very happy to see a film that portrayed such innocence and sweetness. I want every adolescent to see this film and I hope that it gets wide release. It is everything I remember about my first crushes at that age. And Kudos that there was nothing horrifying, ugly or violent.Thank you, thank you, thank you. Write another screenplay as lovely as this and it will bless all of us.Yea for this lovely story.Anne Caputi Newton Center MA
Makes you want to fall in love all over again.
posted on 01 Mar 2009I just watched this movie on TV a couple of hours ago and I just loved it! It's a really cute movie. Every scene and every word Gabe utters is just so reminiscent of my past; most especially the scene where they were talking on the phone and Gabe starts yelling, "I hate you!" Haha! I remembered doing that exact same thing on the phone! And the funny thing was that the reason I did that was the same reason why Gabe did that! The only problem I had with this movie is that it didn't have a happy ending. (Well, depends on how you define a Movie Happy Ending, actually.) Still, the opening scenes of the movie made it seem like a sad ending was inevitable.I do hope they make a sequel or something. A TV series could be awesome (Reader: A TV series about kids? WHAT?!). Heck! I'd be even content with a novel! But I guess, that's the whole point of the movie - to stop right there and make the viewers reminisce about their own first loves.Bottom line: WATCH IT!
some quotes from the movie
posted on 25 Feb 2009love isn't about ridiculous little words. love is about grand gestures, love is about airplanes pulling banners over stadiums, proposuls on jumbo-trons, giant words in sky writing. love is about going that extra mile even if it hurts, letting it all hang out there. love is about finding the courage inside of you that you didn't even know was there.the truth is you come into this world alone..and leave it the exact same way.love is an ugly terrible business, practiced by fools. it'll trample your heart and leave it bleeding on the floor and what does it really get you in the end? nothing but a few incredible memories, that you can't ever shake. the truth is there's gonna be other girls out there - i mean, i hope. but i'm never gonna get another first love. that one's always gonna be her.
Adorable film about a boy's first crush
posted on 01 Feb 2009Forget cheap adolescent soaps and tacky Disney flicks, 'Little Manhattan' has to be one of the most realistic and touching portrayals of young love. The film centres on ten-year-old Gabe, a New York boy whose life revolves around friends, sport and playing referee to his estranged parents. That is, until, he starts karate class with schoolmate Rosemary. Gabe has known Rosemary since kindergarten but this is the first time he starts to see girls as creatures to be admired and he find himself launched into his first crush. Suddenly, he is nervous talking to her and cares about his appearance, leaving the poor boy wondering just what love is doing to him...The two child leads were amazing in their roles. Josh Hutcherson, who played Gabe, wasn't afraid of depicting his character's awkwardness and embarrassment. As such, the audience found it easy to find Gabe a likable child who we could identify with. Equally deserving of praise was Charlie Ray, in her debut role as Rosemary. She was excellent in portraying Rosemary's more self-assured nature (as pointed out in the film, girls do mature faster than boys) without comprising the fact she could be just as naive as Gabe. It's a shame Charlie hasn't been involved in more acting projects since she showed Dakota Fanning isn't the only female child actor out there with talent. The adult cast, understandably, had to play second fiddle to the children but Bradley Whitford and Cynthia Nixon both delivered solid performances as Gabe's parents who were willing to put their personal squabbles to the side to support their little boy on his journey to adulthood.This film stands unique because it's one of the few to properly delve into a child's first crush since it seems, these days, film producers think only air-headed teenagers and incompetent adults (who act like air-headed teenagers) can fall in love. 'Little Manhattan' is a nice exploration of love, both his own crush and his contemplation of his parents' relationship, from the perspective of a pre-adolescent boy. It also stands as a coming-of-age story was we see young Gabe take his first steps away from innocent childhood joys towards the uncertainty of puberty and the adult world beyond. Light humour, particularly during Gabe's voice-over thoughts, provide enough laughs to create an overall enchanting film. It's also worth seeing 'Little Manhattan' for the New York backdrop. To non-New Yorkers like myself, whose only insight into the city are the dark, depressing shots we see in dramas like 'Law and Order' and 'CSI', it is a charming reminder that there is more to New York than murders and cops.'Little Manhattan' is a film that I highly recommend, especially to those who enjoyed coming-of-age films like 'My Girl', 'Stand By Me' and 'Jack the Bear'. Youngsters will probably enjoy it because of the solid character development and the fact it shows ten-year-olds can and do experience romance. It offers a sweeter look at highs and lows of young love (away from newspaper headlines of twelve-year-olds who are pregnant) without being patronising, overly-sentimental or bland. Other scriptwriters could take some lessons from this film so they won't continue to lump yet another stereotypical, dull teeny-booper romance flick upon us.
Yes that is what I look for in a good movie
posted on 28 Jan 2009Loved it, loved it, I love it!!!My god, is that really how boys and men think when there in love? If so, well, then, its exactly the same as me (a woman). I always wanted to know what on earth goes on in a man's mind, if they fear the same "love"blocks as I do.If this movie gave me a realistic inside on how a man thinks, then I know you guys fear the same things I do, in love.Knowing that, I will try to keep it in mind, when he comes around.I loved this movie a lot, they really should make movies like this one. Intelligent little movies made with a lot of love. The actors where amazing in it. I can remember when I was their age, and feeling something like love, but not really knowing what to do with it. I could understand the girls point of view. I was just too young as well to understand it all....heck I still don't understand love. Will I ever??But people, this movie is really worth a shot. Brought with a lot of good humor, but never too much. It was just right every second.One of the best romcoms in years.....when you can watch the film.
Two kids find love unlooked for and must work through their feelings
posted on 30 Oct 2008This is a great movie. I was laughing through the whole thing, not because it's a comedy, per se, but rather because I can relate to Gabe on so many levels. What I mean is, this film will resonate with any of you guys out there who've ever felt uneasy getting close to a girl, and with any girls who've ever known a guy to be that way. This is a real family film that is actually appropriate enough to be viewed by the whole family, and those can be hard to find these days. All of the actors did a great job, especially Josh Hutcherson (Gabe) and Charlie Ray (Rosemary). They did an amazing job. The story is interesting the whole way through - very entertaining, and I recommend this movie to you.
A Very Charming Sleeper
posted on 10 Oct 2008Little Manhattan is the story of first love of a pair of charming fifth graders. The actors playing the two leads, Josh Hutcherson and Charlie Ray, are utterly fascinating and brilliant to watch. Charlie Ray, the girl, in fact made her film debut with this wonderful ode to first love. Mark Levin directed the film written by Jennifer Flackett, and it hearkens back to the days of Kevin Arnold and Winnie Cooper from The Wonder Years. Levin wrote several episodes of the series and uses the same voice over technique of the young male actor narrating events as they happen. The end result is an honest and real look at subject matter that has rarely been this poignant and ingratiating. Melody, a British film from 1971, comes to mind. The film contains wonderful location footage in and around Manhattan and a hilarious homage to The Graduate. Additional subtle odes to Play It Again Sam, A Little Romance, and The Karate Kid are apparent as well. Flackett's screenplay is never clichéd, cloying or maudlin and is the biggest reason why the film succeeds. The performances are honest, real, and true to life. It's an excellent, entertaining film to watch with youngsters similar in age to the young leads. *** of 4 stars.
Great flick
posted on 22 Sep 2008I saw this movie on a plane trip going to Europe in mid January. However, I'm not aware of it being in theaters in my area yet and I can't find it in the available DVD index yet. When it is in theaters and on DVD, I will get it. The movie may not be destined to become an eternal classic but a very good, relatively short (90 min) film. Acting is good by all. Very believable from a kid's point of view. Background of New York City is very good. Central Park is great. Some of the other backgrounds enhance the value of the story. Parallel story with the adult parents makes it very good story for the whole family to see. I wish the ending was slightly different but then again, it's realistic.
Great even for older families
posted on 23 Aug 2008I'm 17, and my parents are in their 50s, but that didn't stop up from fully enjoying this PG movie about 10 and 11 year olds last night! I just wanted to recommend this to anyone wanting to spend some time watching a movie with their parents - they might like it. Neither of my parents even wanted to watch it, and I practically had to drag them to the TV for some "family time." However, when it started, they thought it was funny/cute and enjoyed the whole thing. Plus, we loved seeing Manhattan, because it reminded us of our vacation there.So, if anyone thought this was just a kids movie, I can safely say that it's not. Your whole family just might enjoy the witty humor, and the refreshing perspective of a lovestruck 10 year old boy.
It brings me back...
posted on 09 Aug 2008There is nothing else like being a young boy and being in love for the first time... and there is a DAMNED good reason for that... ha! Seriously, it captured something that still lives in my heart. My daughter sat there entranced with a smirk on her face... I simply laughed and damned near cried along with Gabe. See it... you won't be sorry you did.Also good for all those women who wondered what the heck was going through the mind of that first boy who had a crush on them or stole a kiss. (shiver)Great for the whole family.
Great Movie!
posted on 05 Aug 2008This has to be one of the greatest kids/love stories ever produced. The actors chosen for this movie are perfect.Many Middle School (Junior High)kids can relate to Gabe, played by Josh Hutcherson, and Rosemary, played by Charlie Ray. Two kids, a city and a love story, nothing gets better than that. What makes this movie better than other modern "love stories" is that they managed to produce this entire movie with out any sexual references. The songs that are in this movie, including "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" By Freedy Johnston, go along perfectly with the movie. The music is mellow, nothing hard-core, nothing too soft, the audience will never have a dull moment. Josh Hutcherson really portrays a young boys life, everything from Karate to playing football with his father, another thing they throw at you in this movie is the fact that Gabe's parents are in the process of a divorce, another thing many young children may have to deal with. That along with dealing with a love-relationship were equally balanced in this movie.Definitely a 10 out-of 10.
Watching it easy as breathing; similar to "The Adventures of Pete and Pete"
posted on 26 Aug 2009A very simple and heartwarming love story which is told by a young boy who discovers a girl named Rosemary. Watching this movie is pretty easy as breathing.He has spent his whole life to the other side of the "iron curtain" away from girls having very happy life. And then his life changes when he gets himself a girlfriend. Beautiful things happen when he spends his days with her. He discovers new romantic feelings he have never known before. Rosemary is more mature than him. He likes it. She's smart, beautiful and she can fight like a boy. She definitely influenced him. She boosted his growing-up.This movie has reminded me of "The Adventures of Pete and Pete" which was a hit on Nickelodeon back in 90's. It's one of my favorites. Same narrative voice telling the story, some unrealistic stuff happening (imaginary karate master is in the same role as the personal hero Artie), kids and their world, beautiful summer scenery, some funny scenes and a romance.I also liked it because the story was happening in New York City. This movie has something to show from New York streets and parks to houses and apartments.I like it! An excellent movie to see.