Little Manhattan

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Little Manhattan (2005)

Little Manhattan is a simple, sweet romantic story set in New York City. It’s about a 10-year-old boy named Gabe who is having his first love. The film is directed by Mark Levin and written by Jennifer Flackett, and stars Josh Hutcherson as Gabe and Charlie Ray as Rosemary.

Plot in short
Gabe lives in Manhattan with his parents, who are going through a divorce. He spends his days exploring the city on his scooter. He meets Rosemary, an 11-year-old classmate, and they gradually fall in love. They share adventures in Central Park and around town. Rosemary will be going to summer camp and later a private school, which makes Gabe worry about their future together. After a few bumps, including Gabe’s jealous feelings when Rosemary gets a new sparring partner in karate, Gabe attempts to prove himself by earning a yellow belt—but injures his hand. After a phone argument with his father, Gabe goes to Rosemary’s aunt’s wedding and declares his love. Rosemary says she’s not sure about love yet, but she’s glad to see him and they share a dance. When Gabe returns home, he learns his parents have reconciled. He finishes the story by saying his first love will always be special.

Production and reception
The idea for the film started as a single sentence and grew into a small-budget movie. From concept to script took about two months, and it was quickly approved for production. Little Manhattan was released in U.S. theaters on September 30, 2005, and runs 90 minutes.

Critics mostly liked the film. It has about 77% on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score around 52, indicating mixed or average reviews. Some praised its sweetness and realism, while others felt the plot was thin. Box office was modest, earning about $1.1 million worldwide.

Music
The score was composed by Chad Fischer, and the film features 18 songs, including covers by The Beatles and Elvis Presley. A separate soundtrack album was not released.