Review: ‘Henry & Me’: Good intentions drive tale of childhood illness
Based on the popular children’s books by Ray Negron, the animated “Henry & Me” plays like an after-school special for kids fighting life-threatening diseases.
Eleven-year-old Jack (voiced by a very likable Austin Williams), who loves baseball, especially the New York Yankees, suddenly develops a serious illness. As Jack waits for surgery to begin, he’s visited by a ballplayer named Henry (voiced by Richard Gere), who takes him on a fantasy tour of the Yankees’ storied history.
Jack learns about batting and pitching from players of the distant past -- Babe Ruth (Chazz Palminteri), Mickey Mantle (David Mantle), Thurman Munson (Paul Simon) -- and players of more recent generations, including Reggie Jackson, Hideki Matsui and Goose Gossage (all supplying their own voices). Jack also gets a lot of upbeat messages about never giving up and believing in yourself.
When the time comes to leave this fantasy world where he can throw, run and catch, Jack balks. He doesn’t want to return to his pain-wracked body. He discovers that his easy-going guide is Henry Lou Gehrig, who offers further lessons in dealing with illness.
An increasingly rare example of traditional 2D American animation, “Henry & Me” is so well-intentioned, you wish the film were better. Most of the problems lie in David I. Stern’s script. The lessons from the players about fighting the good fight could have been developed further, the needless songs and flying car trips trimmed.
Although Jack clearly has cancer and is undergoing a crucial surgery, Stern and director Barrett Esposito shy away from explaining what’s really wrong with him or how the operation will help. The filmmakers could have learned from the bracing honesty of the Oscar-winning animated-live action short about children with cancer, “You Don’t Have to Die” (1988).
In a summer laden with mindless popcorn movies, however, it’s difficult to carp at a film that offers a positive message to children in need of hope and courage.
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“Henry & Me”
Playing: At Landmark’s Regent, Westwood
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