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Looking for a movie that encourages us to be better people? That coaxes us to consider the needs of others, without being overly ponderous or dispiriting? That makes us feel like a kid again, while equipping us to be better grownups? And a movie that kids will love, on top of all that?

If such a film appeals to you, then treat yourself to Millions, 2005's most delightful surprise so far.

Alex Etel, in a charming performance, plays 8-year-old Damian, the younger of two brothers who stumble onto an unexpected fortune. Damian, obsessed with the lives of the saints, sees this as his opportunity to do something saintly—he wants to give the money to the poor. But his selfish brother Anthony wants to use the money to become the cool kid on campus. Meanwhile, a shadowy character is lurking about, trying to get the loot back. With Christmas just around the corner, Damian will learn the hard way that doing the right thing can be more complicated than it seems.

The Unexpected Fortune has been the premise of quite a few comedies—most of them awful. But Millions comes from the hyperactive imagination of genre-leaping director Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, 28 Days Later), and it's wise, meaningful, laugh-out-loud funny, and relentlessly inventive. It's not just a satisfying family film—it's an exhilarating film. You'll leave the theater with a ridiculous grin.

My full review of this delightful film is at Christianity Today Movies, where you will also find my interview with the director.

Steven D. Greydanus (Decent Films) raves, "Millions is a rare and special family film: a moral parable rather than a morality tale; a film that combines high ideals and hard realities; a story of hope and faith in something more than Santa Claus. Which is not to say that Santa Claus, or rather St. Nicholas, doesn't show up. But when he pops on a bishop's mitre rather than the familiar red Santa hat, it's clear we're not in Hollywood movieland here."

Christopher Lyon (Plugged In) says, "Boyle and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle refuse to leave any scene ordinary, capturing the imagination of children with vivid colors, unexpected angles and extraordinary graphics. The filmmakers also hit a homerun in casting … Etel as 7-year-old Damian. You can't help but love the kid. Boyle has succeeded in crafting a fanciful yet challenging movie." But he adds, "It also exudes strangely mixed messages about faith and money. Like so many films with religious themes, the faith of Millions is placed in human goodness, not God's goodness."

Many (if not quite a million) mainstream critics are applauding Boyle's achievement.

Robots, the new animated feature from the makers of Ice Age, was a well-oiled box office machine, earning $36 million in its first weekend—but falling short of the March record set by Ice Age in 2002 ($46.3 million).

The movie features spectacular digital animation, and characters voiced by Ewan McGregor, Mel Brooks, Halle Bery, Greg Kinnear, and Robin Williams. McGregor plays Rodney Copperbottom, a robotic inventor in a world of robots who travels to meet his hero, Bigweld (Brooks). Along the way, he falls for a pretty executive (Berry), gets in trouble with a tyrannical corporate bigwig (Kinnear), and a motley crew of robots called "the Rusties."

Todd Hertz (Christianity Today Movies) says these bots could have used a tune-up: "While entertaining, Robots almost feels like a mechanical exercise … in how to make an entertaining family film instead of relying on innovative storytelling to create magic like CG powerhouses The Incredibles and Shrek 2 accomplished. The result is an enjoyable movie you laugh with, cheer on, and even tear up during—but once you leave the theater, not much of it sticks with you."

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March (Web-only) 2005, Vol. 49