By Chris Alexis

A fellow critic and I were discussing August Rush, and we had two very different opinions on it.

I loved it, he hated it.

And I realized our difference of opinion came from the fact we are two very different people. I enjoy storybook romances – and this is exactly what this is.

August Rush tells the story of two musicians – Louis (played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers) who is in a rock band, and Lyla (played by Keri Russell) who have a chance meeting on a roof one night and have a magical night together. The next morning, life tears them apart and it’s heartbreaking for each of them.

But Lyla is pregnant from their encounter. And her overbearing father manipulates the situation and puts her son up for adoption. 

More than a decade later, the boy (played by Freddie Highmore) is in a foster home. He ends up escaping the home and hooks up with a wicked man who uses kids to play music on street corners for money (played by Robin Williams.) The man is known only as “Wizard” and he gives the boy the name “August Rush” as a stage name. It’s through Wizard that August learns he is a musical prodigy. He begins to play the guitar after picking it up. Soon, his genius evolves into other forms of music and he’s discovered by others.

We cut between August’s story and the two star-crossed lovers, separated in different parts of the country. The movie is very predictable, yet heartwarming. 

But for the cynical ones out there – it’s not realistic. At all.

So, it really depends on the kind of person you are as to whether you’ll think this is the dumbest or sweetest movie. For us hopeless romantics, you’ll love it. For the cynical ones, you’ll hate it.