Jeremy Fink & The Meaning Of Life Review & DVD & Book Giveaway

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life
GENRE: Family, Adventure

CAST: Mira Sorvino (Mighty Aphrodite, Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, Mimic), Joe Pantoliano (Memento, The Matrix, "The Sopranos"), Ryan Simpkins (Revolutionary Road, A Single Man), Michael Urie ("Ugly Betty," Beverly Hills Chihuahua )

DIRECTOR: Tamar Halpern

PRODUCER: Lauren Bullock, Ken H. Keller

SYNOPSIS: A month before his 13th birthday, Jeremy Fink receives a mysterious wooden box in the mail with the words “The Meaning of Life - for Jeremy Fink to open on his 13th birthday.” It has four locks, but the keys are lost. In order to find out what secrets lie within the box it’s up to Jeremy and his best friend Lizzy to use their imaginations to search high and low throughout Manhattan for clues. Their adventure takes them from flea markets to science museums meeting wacky and interesting characters along the way. Each encounter unlocks a clue to bring them closer to finding out the contents of the box and ultimately discovering the greatest secret of them all! Based on the beloved book by Wendy Mass.

The 411 by Maria
After seeing the movie, I found out this was a best selling book and now I must read it.

The movie stars a young actor named Maxwell Beer who reminds me of a very young Robbie Benson. The movie is narrated by Jeremy who receives a package in the mail from his deceased father containing a wood box with the wording The Meaning of Life  - For Jeremy Fink to open on his 13th Birthday. I was smitten and very excited to find out what his father would put in such a box.

I love the relationship between Jeremy and his friend Lizzie whose mother left her and her father. They share something very special and in this coming of age movie. It is nice to see them allowed to stay innocents which made the movie even better to this mom.  Boys and girls can be friends and together they try to solve the mystery of the box. 

Mira Sorvino does a great job as a loving mother raising a son. She always has all the answers and knows exactly what to say.

The setting of the city allow the children to do what they must to solve the mystery of the box and gain access.


While I don't want to give too much away, let me say this; the story unfolds, peeling back magical layer after magical layer to reveal one of the most wonderful feelings between two people. The unconditional, undying love of a parent. Jeremy is a very lucky, much loved boy and his parents are special people who longed to make his 13th birthday something he would always remember even if Dad couldn't physically be there.

This is a book and movie I can't wait for my children to be old enough to really understand. Perfect tween/teen/parent movie.

See this movie, even if you don't buy it!

Extra bonus: Michael Urie from Ugly Betty! He is adorable!

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life (the book) was:

• nominated for the 2009-2010 Iowa Teen Award
• nominated for 2009-2010 New Mexico's Annual Children's Choice Award (Land of Enchantment Book Award)
• nominated for the 2010 Nutmeg Book Award in Connecticut
• nominated for the 2010 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award in Illinois
• nominated for the 2008-2009 North Carolina School Library Media Association YA Book Award
• nominated for the Sunshine State Young Reader’s Award 2008-2009
• nominated for the 2009 Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Award
• chosen as VOYA's Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers 2007
• nominated for the 2009 Grand Canyon Reader Award (formerly the Arizona Young Readers' Award)
• nominated for the 2008-2009 Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award
• chosen as a Booksense pick
• selected for the 2007-2008 Texas Lone Star Reading List
• named a Junior Library Guild Premier Selection
• listed in the 2007 New York Public Library's Best Books for the Teen Age

To Purchase  Jeremy Fink & The Meaning of Life on Amazon

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Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from Phase 4 Films to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.