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Aidan Quinn, Bonnie Hunt, Kevin Pollak, Adi Stein, Eddie Kaye Thomas ... see more see more... , Brian Dennehy , Mike Weinberg

Pete (Adi Stein) is an eight-year-old Catholic boy growing up in the suburbs of Chicago in the mid-'70s. Pete attends Catholic school, where as classes let out for the summer, he's admonished by a nun... read more read more... to follow the path of Lord, and not that of the Devil. Perhaps taking this message a bit too seriously, Pete decides it's his goal for the summer to help someone get into heaven; having been told that Catholicism is the only sure path to the kingdom of the Lord, Pete decides to convert a Jew to Catholicism in order to improve their standing in the afterlife. Hoping to find a likely candidate, Pete begins visiting a nearby synagogue, where he gets to know Rabbi Jacobson (Kevin Pollack), who responds to Pete's barrage of questions with good humor. Pete also makes friends with the Rabbi's son, Danny (Michael Weinberg), who is about the same age; when he learns that Danny is seriously ill, he decides Danny would be an excellent choice for conversion. When the priest at Pete's church (Brian Dennehy) informs Pete that all will be tested before they pass the Pearly Gates, he sets up a mini-decathlon and puts Danny in training as he attempts to reshape his spiritual thinking. Pete's parents (Bonnie Hunt and Aidan Quinn) aren't sure just what to make of Pete's new summer project, and as they become aquatinted with Rabbi Jacobson, they share their perspectives on the unexpected trials of parenting. Stolen Summer received more than its share of pre-release publicity; writer/director Pete Jones' script was the winner in a nationwide screenwriting competition sponsored by producers Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, with Miramax Pictures pledging a one-million-dollar budget and a theatrical release to the winning story. As part of the deal, the production of Stolen Summer was documented by a film crew from the premium cable network HBO, who aired a documentary miniseries about the making of the film, Project Greenlight. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

65% liked it

1,634 ratings

Critics

35% liked it

57 critics

PG, 1 hr. 31 min.

Directed by: Pete Jones

Release Date: March 22, 2002

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DVD Release Date: September 24, 2002

Stats: 128 reviews

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Aidan Quinn and Bonnie Hunt in Miramax's Stolen Summer (2002) Stolen Summer
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Flixster Reviews (128)

  • Tomassgringo
    September 5, 2010
    Tomassgringo
    This movie demonstrates the innocence I think God intends us all to view Him with but have forgotten how to do. I am Spiritual without being religious and this movie shows it takes that "faith" of doing good more so than following traditions to get to Heaven. Christians, Jews, ... read moreMuslims, Buddhist or any faith cannot say they have it "right" .... they each just have faith in what they have been taught. It takes eyes like a child sometimes to see through the BS religion has fed us. This movie is not preachy, but should give many (like me) something to think about. Sweet story! Plus I was 9 in 1976, so I loved seeing the kids on banana seat bikes!! I see a lot of me in the character Pete (but I was not raised Catholic)! lol
  • dreamfaeries
    May 5, 2010
    dreamfaeries
    Very sweet and endearing...
  • jjnxn
    March 13, 2010
    jjnxn
    Sweet drama with good performances by all.
  • losingallcontrol
    May 31, 2008
    losingallcontrol
    I remember watching the making of this film a few years back during Season 1 of Greenlight Project. I just got the chance to see the finished film. It was such a sweet story. For a first time writer/director the film was done really well. And I assumed I would get bored during th... read moreis movie but instead I was finding myself invested in the characters, especially the two little boys trying to get to Heaven.
  • ladyofthelake2222
    July 5, 2007
    ladyofthelake2222
    The premise--a Catholic little boy trying to get a Jewish little boy to Heaven and the way he goes about it, is a little "far out"; but the storyline and acting is very good; very believable. You can't help but identify with each character's viewpoint in some way.

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Critic Reviews

Tom Maurstad
June 27, 2002
Tom Maurstad, Dallas Morning News

Nearly all the fundamentals you take for granted in most films are mishandled here. Full Review

Carrie Rickey
May 16, 2002
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer

Even when his technique is amateurish, Jones' belief in the material is refreshing.

Desson Thomson
May 10, 2002
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

The performances take the movie to a higher level.

Mick LaSalle
May 3, 2002
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

The problem, amazingly enough, is the screenplay. Full Review

Terry Lawson
May 3, 2002
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

Ill-considered, unholy hokum. Full Review

Susan Walker
April 26, 2002
Susan Walker, Toronto Star

If you ignore the stilted adult performances, Stolen Summer is a persuasive portrayal of boyhood friendship. Full Review

Liam Lacey
April 26, 2002
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

A static and sugary little half-hour, after-school special about interfaith understanding, stretched out to 90 minutes. Full Review

Dennis Lim
March 26, 2002
Dennis Lim, Village Voice

Made with no discernible craft and monstrously sanctimonious in dealing with childhood loss. Full Review

Claudia Puig
March 22, 2002
Claudia Puig, USA Today

A sweet story appropriate for the whole family, though it feels a bit like an after-school special. Full Review

Jan Stuart
March 22, 2002
Jan Stuart, Newsday

An artificial exercise in personal childhood reverie whose squishy, generic personality shows evidence aplenty of corporate fingerprints. Full Review

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