This is a rather odd movie. You really want to like it because of some likable performances and characters, particularly the lead and his almost creepily precocious 4 year old brother.

But the movie can't decide what it's about. You expect it to be about the main character Homer, but it takes repeated and lengthy side excursions into other characters lives. The run time just doesn't support these excursions.

Homer has a unique coming of age story, a subtly brutal one. He takes a job as a telegram boy, unaware that he'll be soon delivering endless reports of dead soldiers to families. That's a strong arc, but it's only vaguely there.

It's painfully obvious where this is heading, his brother dying.

And what's with the names? Ithaca, Homer, Ulysses? That comes across as incredibly pretentious.

I know that's from the book, but it's an old book and that aspect doesn't age well.

As predictable as the movie is, it actually surprised me how much it worked the death of the brother. This was literally eye rolling to me. The movie just didn't earn this ending.