This is the single best DCOM in existence. I haven't seen this movie in a very long time, due to extremely rare airings, probably because of the delicate subject matter.Frankly, I'm amazed Disney made this movie at all, let alone how wonderfully they handled it. Especially Tru's contest entry. Fantastically done. But am I ever thankful for it.Shia is at his best in this movie, showing his dramatic skill at a level previously unseen. He must have been around fourteen years old when he played this role, and after seeing him on even stevens at the time, I was completely stunned, and in fact still am. Six years later, this performance still gets me uncontrollably emotional. Case in point, the kite and library scenes.Clara Bryant was also spot on, although a couple lines of dialogue seemed a little awkward. I loved how this movie showed how everybody interacted with Eddie, and not just one point of view.It shouldn't have the stigma it is associated with just because it is a DCOM. In fact, it almost redeems all of Disney's other mistakes, like HSM.I was ten years old again, just for a while.It is beautiful.

NO SPOILERS This has got to be the most powerful Disney movie out there! It had me crying. I loved the novel and was kind of excited when they made it into a movie. The whole cast was strong and played very effective performances. I miss this Disney Channel. Now they are piling movies in like the dreadful High School Musical, or Jump In. All that is just feel good, predictable crap. This movie doesn't air enough anymore. It is literally one of the best movies ever, not just for TV, movies in general.Now my ratings: Story 10/10- The story is just powerful. A girl named Tru hates her life because she has an over working father, a mother who never takes her side, and a mentally challenged brother. So she enters a video contest that may change her life forever. The relationships are so moving and everyone can relate I think.Acting 10/10- Wonderful performances by all actors. Shia LaBeouf took on Eddie perfectly. He actually seems like he is mentally challenged. Clara Bryant was a perfect Tru and I thought some people could relate to her in at least one way. She is a girl of substance going through a rough patch in her life.Emotion 10/10- Every part had me crying. Literally. And I don't cry a lot during movies. Well this movie had so much power! And it is impossible to hate it! 10/10. Watch this. Leave HSM and JI to die in the cold. This movie was powerful.

Disney is in the entertainment business, and the concept behind Disney original movies is just that- entertainment. But this movie is different...and the main reason is Shia LaBeouf. This kid, if guided the right way, has got a future and a half...the premise behind the movie could have been sickly sweet, but the actors did a great job of portraying the situation of a developmentally-challenged young adult(played superbly by Shia) and how it affected his family...the other subplots helped add to the movie's substance...subjects like peer pressure, parent/child conflict, even parental guilt, are dealt with in a realistic and meaningful way...and Shia's performance is nothing short of amazing...he creates Eddie Walker as a real-life person trying to make his way, with wonderment at times and frustrating behavior at others...this is a Disney original that should be out on video...so those who haven't seen it on TV can see it now...and, an added benefit, listen closely for the song played during Tru's video...it's "Secret World" by Robbyn Ragland...and it's great...it's nice to know that Disney is still capable of this kind of quality production...

All I can say is that I am floored after seeing this movie. It was written about US!! My teenage daughter even said so. My son has high-functioning autism, and she is his only sibling. (They are not twins.) Tru's attitude toward Eddie is nearly identical to what my daughter feels toward her brother. I'd like to think I'm not as clueless as her mom is portrayed to be, as I have worked hard to help my son and allow my daughter to live as normal a life as possible under the circumstances, but the other similarities regarding the family are astonishing. It makes me cry every time I see it, although it's been a long time. I would love to get my hands on a copy!