The Water Man

Kids aren’t necessarily smarter than their parents, but in The Water Man, they are clever enough to figure out some life lessons on their own.

This sharply crafted directorial debut for actor David Oyelowo (Selma) is an enchanting fantasy whose characters are grounded in gritty reality.

The story follows Gunner (Lonnie Chavis), a teenage bookworm who has recently moved to a small town with his adoring mother (Rosario Dawson) and his father, Amos (Oyelowo), whose military sensibilities clash with Gunner’s more artistic proclivities.

When he learns of his mother’s leukemia diagnosis, Gunner begins exhibiting more outward hostility toward Amos, despite dad’s clumsy attempts to make amends. The youngster overhears references to a reclusive healing figure known as the Water Man, first from an eccentric mortician (Alfred Molina) and then from wayward girl named Jo (Amiah Miller), who claims to have encountered him.

Desperate for help as his mother’s health deteriorates, Gunner flees home, into the woods with Jo, hoping to find the mysterious Water Man and a cure that could bring the family back together. Equally frantic is Amos, who turns to the local sheriff (Maria Bello) to track them down.

Oyelowo’s first turn behind the camera features some ambitious visual flourishes without an overreliance on gimmickry or special effects, even if the overall emotional impact is milder than intended.

Juvenile moviegoers should be able to identify with the inquisitive and precocious Gunner, thanks to an expressive performance by Chavis (TV’s “This Is Us”) that balances strength with vulnerability. The ensemble cast is solid across the board.

The Water Man sometimes struggles to modulate its whimsical elements with the gravity of the mother’s grave condition or the recklessness of the children’s mischief — resulting in some jarring tonal shifts.

However, rookie screenwriter Emma Needell avoids cheap sentimentality, compensating for a lack of thematic depth with heartfelt charm. Her script hearkens to the type of stirring adolescent adventure we don’t see much anymore in the age of social media and short attention spans.

Wholesome and innocuous almost to a fault, the film’s best achievement might be promoting reading and the power of imagination without turning corny or old-fashioned. That alone makes it a worthwhile discovery.

Rated PG, 92 minutes.