Jack (1996)

Brandon and I have a free trial with Netflicks, so we've been watching lots of movies. We turned this one on this morning. I wasn't super impressed with it til the end when it taught me two very important lessons.

The movie is about Jack. He is born when he is only 2 months along because he ages 4x faster than he should. His brain doesn't just his physical body. His mother tries protecting him from bullies at school my having a tutor come to their home. The tutor finally convinces her that he's young and needs to go to school. Well, the first few days were rough for him but eventually he found LOTS of friends. He is in 5th grade and his teacher assigns the class to write an essay about what they want to be when they grow up. Jack ends up having some health issues and it makes his mom worry about sending him to school because his body is so fragile. Jack realizes that he isn't going to live long...so why is he learning all this stuff. His tutor told him something that impacted him. He said that he doesn't teach so kids can learn. He teaches so he can learn from kids. He needs reminded that it's fun to sit in a tree house or splash in a puddle. Jack decided he wanted to go back to school and enjoy the life he had. His friend, Louie, was giving his report on what he wanted to be when he grew up.

"I want to be just like my best friend when I grow up. He's only ten but he looks much older. He's like the perfect grown up because on the inside, he's still just a kid - he's not afraid to learn things or try things, or to meet new people the way most grown ups are. It's like he's looking at everything for the first time - because he is. And most grown ups aren't like that."

Jack walked in late at this point. Louie went on to say that he didn't know what he wanted to be yet...but he knew who he wanted to be like.

It's graduation time and Jack made it! He has grey hair and wrinkles all over. He is the valedictorian. He stands up to give his speech, glasses in hand.

"I don't have very much time these days, so I'll make it quick--like my life. You know, as we come to the end of this phase of our life, we find ourselves trying to remember the good times and trying to forget the bad times, and we find ourselves worring about the future. Start to worry, thinking what am I gonna do, where am I gonna be in ten years? But I say to you, 'Hey, look at me.' Please don't worry so much, 'cause in the end none of us have very long on this earth. Life is fleeting. And if you're ever distressed, cast your eyes to the summer sky, when the stars are strung across the velvety night, and when a shooting star streaks through the blackness turning night into day... Make a wish, think of me...Make your life spectacular. I know I did. I made it, Mom. I'm a grown-up. Thank you."

He then rides off to celebrate his graduation with his friends.

Even though Louie was young, he still knew alot that some of us forget. It's okay to not know everything. It's okay not to always be the responsible one. Being silly isn't bad. Whoa, now after hearing this I thought about me...I feel like I've become a serious ole bum...there's enough of those around...I don't need to be one ALL the time.

Jack's last speech given at graduation taught me to live each moment to the fullest. I take for granted that my life is long. But really, how long is it? I'm sure he tried to have the funnest time all the time. That's what I need to do. I'm excited for the future but if that's all I look to how am I supposed to see that the exciting things I was looking forward to a week ago are happening now??

So while this movie may not be worth watching, I would tell everyone to watch the last 15 minutes or so of it. It made my day!!!!