The first time I saw FREE WHEELING I was disappointed (Spoiler Warning: Only read this if you've seen the film). I thought the whole thing about Dickie's bad neck was a waste of time. He's obviously perfectly healthy, and he, the kids and the adults (even the nurse, despite what she says) in his life all seem to know this. Only his mother doesn't believe it, and she's not onscreen long enough to have much impact. So when Stymie accidentally cures him, the feeling for me was not "Wow - he's all better," but "Wow - I didn't know he was ill."
The climactic ride down the hill also lacked something to me. When Stymie and Dickie are shown inside the carriage, not the least bit terrified, watching that fake projected view in front of them, with mostly background music playing rather than the rumble of sound effects, it seems almost like they're watching TV in a limo.
Recently, however, I saw the film again and liked it better. The acting from the kids is great, something I didn't fully appreciate the first time around. Dickie's bad health is still a flimsy device but it does get the plot where it needs to go. The middle part, with the kids driving their wagon, is what made the short work for me this time, and it inspired cheery feelings that spilled over to the rest of the story. It really is a pretty well-designed film.
The climactic ride down the hill also lacked something to me. When Stymie and Dickie are shown inside the carriage, not the least bit terrified, watching that fake projected view in front of them, with mostly background music playing rather than the rumble of sound effects, it seems almost like they're watching TV in a limo.
Recently, however, I saw the film again and liked it better. The acting from the kids is great, something I didn't fully appreciate the first time around. Dickie's bad health is still a flimsy device but it does get the plot where it needs to go. The middle part, with the kids driving their wagon, is what made the short work for me this time, and it inspired cheery feelings that spilled over to the rest of the story. It really is a pretty well-designed film.