Product Details

• Actors: Matt Letscher, Christian Craft, Rusty Schwimmer, Randy Travis, Romy Rosemont
• Directors: Jefferson Davis
• Writers: Jefferson Davis, Kari Skogland
• Producers: Brent Morris, Hiro Tokimori, Wakako Miyakuni
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Monarch Home Video
• VHS Release Date: December 16, 2003
• Run Time: 103 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000087F1F
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #525,575 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Child of Physical Abuse, November 20, 2008

By 

Artist & Author (Near Mt. Baker, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: John John in the Sky (aka I'll Wave Back) (DVD)

In several ways this is a tolerably sad movie. It is tolerable because you keep hoping things will change for JohnJohn. I suppose it does for him when he shot his father, then leaves when his mother runs off to San Francisco. His father was very cruel to him, and to his mother, so they had good reason to leave. But, when the movie switches to present day, JohnJohn treats his son the way he was treated as a boy. Even worse, one of the women who knew JohnJohn as a little boy tells his son to cut him some slack because of the way his father had been treated. So, being abused as a child gives one the right to abuse his or her child? I don't think so.

I am giving this movie a 'B' rating because it is a compelling movie, and one does feel for little JohnJohn. His love-hate relationship with Zeola is interesting, as are all the very colorful characters. And, you keep hoping his father will change. I would suggest that parents who see this movie make it very clear to their children that JohnJohn's father's treatment of him is unacceptable, even if it is done in a clumsy manner in an effort to raise the child right. If they know a school mate like JohnJohn, it can help them be more understanding of the friend.

Another objection I have to the movie is that JohnJohn's father is made out to be a Christian. My father was a slumlord, and I guarantee you that there were far more abused children in one of his apartment buildings than in any genuinely Christian church. Another minor objection I have is that so many of the characters talk in a gruff, almost angry manner. If you find this movie, it would be worth watching, but, unless you are looking for depictions of child abuse, not worth too much effort to seek it out.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Family Film, September 2, 2003

By 

CHARLES (Culver City, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: John John in the Sky (aka I'll Wave Back) (DVD)

Completely enjoyable film and beautifully shot! My whole family just loved it. While this film is not for a very young audience, my 7 year old has watched it three times this week alone. I highly recommend this film.
Charles Wakeman

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful Film, September 15, 2003

By 

Daniel J. Clark (Front Royal, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: John John in the Sky (aka I'll Wave Back) (DVD)

Do they still make movies without that "once scene" you have to fast forward through? Do they make movies where you see both the good and bad side in everyone, not just one dimensional? Yes, they do. My wife and I rented "John John" knowing nothing about it and were very pleasantly surprised. The little boy acts and talks like a little boy would under the situation. The black/white relationships are well done, being set in the South in 1968. The retarded woman's party was very touching. It left my wife and I talking for quite awhile about the characters, why they behaved the way they did. If you are looking for an action film, keep looking. But if you want to see a movie that looks at issues in human relationship, gives this one a look.