
A streetwise teenage runaway is on the lam from her probation officer. Her name is Jacquelyn, but if you call her anything but Jack, she'll cut you. Needing to lay low, earn money, and gain adequate stability to rescue her 11-year-old sister Coke from foster care, Jack cons her way into a suburban home as live-in helper for their autistic 11-year-old daughter, Glory. Much to her surprise, Jack has a unique ability to connect with the nonverbal little girl. As she positively i... (Full plot summary below)
Enjoy FREE movies and series with your Prime (USA) subscription or when you start a 30-day free trial!
Links compiled using automated software. Availability of offers subject to change / might be region specific / out of date.
A streetwise teenage runaway is on the lam from her probation officer. Her name is Jacquelyn, but if you call her anything but Jack, she'll cut you. Needing to lay low, earn money, and gain adequate stability to rescue her 11-year-old sister Coke from foster care, Jack cons her way into a suburban home as live-in helper for their autistic 11-year-old daughter, Glory. Much to her surprise, Jack has a unique ability to connect with the nonverbal little girl. As she positively impacts Glory, the family impacts Jack. Particularly Kay, Glory's mother. As these two scrappy survivors find an affinity with each other, Kay finds in Jack a daughter she can talk to. When romantic sparks fly between Jack and Robert, Glory's 17-year-old brother, we see a group of wounded people poignantly and surprisingly begin to heal each other-just a little bit. But the law catches up, the truth comes out, and Jack is forced to make a choice-to save her own hide, or save someone else.
Leave your thoughts about Jack of the Red Hearts.
| Los Angeles TimesGary GoldsteinThere's a poignant, powerful story lurking at the edges of Jack of the Red Hearts but, as is, the film proves a strained, implausible family drama. |
| Boston GlobePeter KeoughThis is not “Rain Man”; it’s better. |
| The Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckThe story moves along in fairly predictable beats, including the inevitable denouement in which Jack's deception is exposed. But it's effective nonetheless, thanks to the authentic-feeling depiction of the physical and emotional toll of caring for an autistic child. |
| Village VoiceAaron HillisIt's rare that a drama shows such specificity with respect to the experience of coping with autism, and that sensitivity goes a long way. |
| Chicago Daily HeraldDann GireA few POV shots provide us with insight and empathy. Too many of them simply devalue the POV impact and tend to give Jack of the Red Hearts the texture of an ABC Afterschool Special. |
| Common Sense MediaSandie Angulo ChenGood acting in thought-provoking but predictable drama. |
| The New York TimesStephen HoldenJack of the Red Hearts is so good-hearted it doesn’t want to leave audiences without a glimmer a hope. |
| Chesapeake Family MagazineRoxana HadadiJack of the Red Hearts depicts a bond between a troubled teenager and a young autistic girl ... The goodwill for its titular character never feels earned. |
| NewsBlazePrairie MillerYouth in social and economic crisis today converges with autism, and struggling to come of age in this troubled world. Based on the challenges of the director raising her own autistic child, and raw and real mixed with plenty of tough love empathy too. |
| User ReviewMarc MThere are too few movies about real life, about the struggles of parenting, especially parenting a special needs child. This story takes two special needs kids - one 18 years old but emotionally broken from her mothers death, and one 11 years old and autistic - and intertwines their lives in a way that brings out the best in both. Too often "delinquent" teens are written off from being productive members of society before they've had a chance to mature; this movie gives hope for them. And then there's society's general perception of autism: the film gives that a good shake and maybe opens some eyes about what autism really means. This movie was 5 stars all the way. |