Gifted (2017) * *

Directed by:  Marc Webb

Starring:  Chris Evans, McKenna Grace, Lindsay Duncan, Jenny Slate, Octavia Spencer, Glenn Plummer

There isn't anything bad about Gifted, but there isn't anything particularly outstanding about it either.    The story moves along without ever really engaging me.   The people are super nice, the performances are fine, and the movie goes where it does without any surprises, but it is all meh.    I'm not really able to work up much enthusiasm for Gifted because there isn't much to be worked up about.   

The gifted in Gifted is 7-year-old Mary Adler (Grace), who could give Will Hunting a run for his money in the math genius department.     As Gifted opens, she is going to school for the first time under the guardianship of her uncle Frank (Evans), who wants her to lead as normal a life as possible.    Mary doesn't fit in well.    She is too intellectually advanced for first grade math, she causes trouble with her teachers, and beats up a bully on the bus.    Her teacher Bonnie (the perky Slate), suggests a school for more advanced students not far away from home.    Frank refuses, mostly because he fears the idea that Mary will be considered "different".     Memo to Frank:  She is.  

Because Mary, the daughter of Frank's genius sister who committed suicide years ago, is advanced intellectually, but not socially, she comes off as arrogant and a bit petulant, but she learns to get along with others while Frank navigates his own conflicted emotions.      Enter Frank's estranged mother Evelyn, who, not unreasonably, wants Mary to make the most of her gifts and become the accomplished genius her daughter was before her suicide.     Frank disagrees and Evelyn fights Frank for custody of Mary in court.     It is obvious, at least to me, that Mary is better off using her talents as fully as possible instead of wasting them.    It becomes difficult to argue against Evelyn, who is painted as a haughty villain, when she is correct.  

Nothing in Gifted story-wise is necessarily original.    You have one part Good Will Hunting and one part courtroom drama, with some I Am Sam and plot twists thrown in out of left field which shoehorn in a happy ending of sorts.     And there is also the business of Mary's foster family, which are introduced late in the film as part of a courtroom and plot compromise which doesn't make a lot of sense considering how much time, effort, and money Frank must have already sunk into the case.

Evans, most famous for playing Captain America, relies on his ability to stay cool even in the most trying circumstances.     Not much rattles this guy's cage, which allows us to side with him to a point.   He is a genuine nice guy and cares for Mary.     Also around is Octavia Spencer, who plays Frank's neighbor in a mostly unnecessary role, but she does what she can with it.   

I give Gifted two stars not because it is poorly constructed or poorly acted.    On the contrary, it is acted pretty well.     It just didn't compel me to care enough about it or tug at the heartstrings, which would be perfectly acceptable in a movie like this.