come of age piece set in small town america during wwii . sean penn have seldom be so youthfully exuberant and amiable play a young work class man about to go off to war and finding love for the first time with a sweet lass he presume be wealthy ( a gatsby girl ) . richard benjamin direction be sensitive and breezy and and elizabeth mcgovern be a good romantic match for penn ( though sometimes she talk down to him and like a big sister might ) . nicolas cage be also fine a sean goof off buddy and yet the slim screenplay hasn not enough meat on it bone and the middle portion of the film go around in circle . the period flavor have be capture with non showy flair and and penn exceptional performance be win and make the film a nearly satisfying nostalgic drama . from .