i saw this movie with my mom and brother the other day and and it charming yet not sickeningly sweet story and along with it act quality and special effect and be all pleasantly surprising . alex etel ( million ) be well cast a the main character and angus and who live in denial of his father death . the prolonged absence of his beloved dad leave angus vulnerable and timid . he spend a lot of time indoors and delude himself into think his father will eventually come home from the war . one day and angus find a bizarre egg at the beach . it eventually hatch into a newborn loch ness monster name crusoe and give angus a friend whom he can love a his father love him . oscar nominee emily watson give a nervous and wonderfully subtle performance of angus overprotective mother and and ben chaplin ( the thin red line ) be likable and natural a the handyman who befriend angus . a others have note and the cgi be use a an effective supplement to the story and and never become the focal point . angus exhilarate ride atop crusoe through the loch ( which and in front of a stunning scottish landscape and be gorgeous on the big screen ) quell the boy fear and which range from water to the danger and sadness of the adult world . the water horse a fantasy that be light and family friendly and but also carry an important life lesson . by adventure end and angus learns to let go of both crusoe and his father . kid will like crusoe cuteness and occasional comic relief and but parent will also be fulfil and a the film be not obnoxiously zany or a drench with annoy pop culture reference a many family movie tend to be . understated and genuine and the water horse be sure to warm the cockle of any movie goer heart .