Man of the House

Surprisingly tender and sweet family dramedy, whose title and poster had me bracing for Thomas to put an asshol-ish Chase through the HOME ALONE treatment; instead, it’s Chase’s genuinely warm and believable performance as a nice guy that grounds this and makes the film something modestly special, backed by a nicely understated turn from Thomas who helps chart the predictable, but pleasant evolution of their relationship. Using the Indian Guides as a plot anchor proves successful, paying off in some unexpected ways; my only major qualm is the inclusion of the gangster subplot which leads to a fairly tepid action finale – surely there was a better character-based way to provide a final resolution?