There was a sense of wanting to connect with the film because it seemed uplifting, appropriate for families, featured a strong cast, and had good performances—but something held me back. It wasn't dislike born of negativity, but rather the opposite; there was an excess of sentimentality and reliance on familiar tropes. This Australian movie felt like that, possessing a promising premise that I would suggest, particularly to children and families, yet lacking any genuine surprises and feeling predictable overall. The story is partially rooted in actual events. It centers around Dylan, a young boy living in Perth, Western Australia, who discovers he has a talent for crafting and launching paper airplanes. He then dedicates himself to pursuing this skill at a professional level, aiming to compete at the junior level and represent his country in the upcoming world championship held in Tokyo. The narrative follows how this unexpected success unfolds and its impact on mending his family’s grief. From the start, you can anticipate what will happen throughout the movie's duration. Therefore, spoilers or summaries won't diminish the experience for those who haven’t seen it yet. Even the characters feel predetermined. For instance, the boy’s friendship with a hawk wasn’t accidental and tied into the film's theme, and his grandfather was a World War II pilot. I found myself losing interest at that point, but couldn't bring myself to dislike this charming and unusual movie. I continued watching because the boy’s determination and passion for paper airplanes extended beyond himself, inspiring those around him and offering them a chance at change. > "Okay. Here's my advice. > Study everything that flies. (Snaps fingers)" The film incorporates several smaller storylines. Addressing bullying was one of the more positive aspects, along with exploring three different types of friendships: with a neighborhood boy, a girl from the competition, and with a bird. The father character seemed burdened by sadness and served as an imperfect role model, though his behavior stemmed from understandable reasons. The boy’s actions were largely motivated by a desire to reconnect with his father. Sam Worthington played the part of the father, but his role felt somewhat diminished compared to his usual stature. His presence likely boosted the film's visibility, especially in marketing efforts, although he delivered a solid performance. While I’ve mentioned these points, my biggest issue was the lack of realism. Specifically, the paper airplane flights seemed improbable. Considering that we now have advanced CGI capabilities, it felt odd to ignore accuracy and opt for something more fantastical. That approach might work well for commercial films, but this wasn't one of them; its intention was to encourage children, which it did to some degree—something I appreciate. It’s not the best Australian film or children's movie I’ve seen recently. Despite my mixed feelings, I genuinely enjoyed watching it, and I hope your experience differs from what I’ve expressed here. 6/10

Source on TMDB