Once in a Blue Moon

(Canadian)

A Malofilm Distribution (in Canada) release of a Blue Moon Films production. (International sales: Ark Films, Vancouver.) Produced by Sarah Duncan, Jane Charles. Executive producer, Alan Moranis. Directed, written by Philip Spink.

With: Cody Serpa, Simon Baker, Deanna Milligan, Mike MacDonald, Cheryl Wilson , Amber Warnat, Elyssa Hogg.

This soft-focus kidpic, which world-preemed in Vancouver, may play OK on the rumpus-room VCR, but "Once in a Blue Moon" may have to wait longer than that for theater action.

Like an endless episode of "The Wonder Years" flattened by un-ironic voiceover narration, this B.C.-made trip down memory lane will leave adults reaching for the contrast and sharpness knobs, or maybe just waiting for commercials. First-time filmmaker Philip Spink comes from ad-land, and his helming substitutes detailed art direction and muted atmosphere for narrative thrust as 10-year-old Peter Piper (passably played by Cody Serpa), who secretly plans to build a backyard moon rocket, struggles with the usual bullies and chores, as well as his parents' revolving-door foster-care program.

His latest insta-sibling is wide-eyed Sam (Simon Baker), a small native boy whom viewers may think is a girl. Pic displays a suspicious amount of long hair for suburban, Catholic-school Canada, circa 1967, and when someone mistakes Orphan Annie-coifed Peter for a female, it's deeply traumatic for everyone involved.

Some of the film's imagery is quite magical, with fantasy monsters and elaborate drawings filling the frame. But the clever tech effortsonly serve to reveal adult hands too heavily laid on what could have been a light tale of childhood. Every image has been relentlessly tweaked for cuteness, but there's no sense of time or place, let alone humor. This "Blue Moon" floats away in an unvaryingly dreamy sky.

Camera (color), John Spooner; editor, Frank Irvine; music, Jim Guttridge, Daryl Bennett; art direction, Mark Herdman; set decoration, John Kalman; costume design, Crystine Booth; sound, Frank Griffiths; special effects, Mike Caluori, John Chilton. Reviewed in Vancouver, Nov. 7, 1995. (In Vancouver Film Festival.) Running time: 96 MIN.

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