the whole movie falls between stylization, which it mostly lacks, and realism, which it can't quite claim with its non-teenage teenager spouting non-swearing swears. Gilly Hopkins deserves some credit for maintaining its source's smallness
The Great Gilly Hopkins has its enjoyable moments-Bates' entertaining, scenery-chewing turn providing many of them-and its themes are refreshingly complex for a film targeted to kids
Kathy Bates and Glenn Close, really give "The Great Gilly Hopkins" its considerable heart. This movie, though uneven, is affecting because of these two reliable stars
