Nutcrackers

Like its mischievous brood of preteens, Nutcrackers is rough around the edges with heartfelt intentions at its core.

However, while managing some scattered broad laughs and nostalgic throwback flourishes, this freewheeling coming-of-age comedy from director David Gordon Green (Halloween) is overall more silly than substantial.

The story follows Mike (Ben Stiller), a workaholic corporate real-estate executive who travels from Chicago to a rural Ohio farm to sign paperwork for his four recently orphaned nephews, ranging in age from 12-year-old Justice (Homer Janson) to 8-year-old twins.

Mike isn’t aware until informed by a small-town social worker (Linda Cardellini) that he would become responsible for them until foster placement. So a quick weekend trip turns into a potential nightmare, as he tries to negotiate a big deal back home while becoming a temporary caretaker for the irrepressible homeschooled youngsters.

Behind their unkempt appearance and animals running wild on the property, the kids are still reeling from the death of their mother, and Mike’s estranged sister, who also happened to own a nearby ballet studio where her sons trained.

Mike’s callous ignorance eventually softens, if only he can prompt the unruly boys to act respectable enough to secure a permanent foster placement.

Mixing sincerity and sentimentality, the screenplay by Leland Douglas combines some familiar formulas about rambunctious kiddos outsmarting hapless adults, whose guilt prompts them to become a willing participant. There’s also the hidden artistic talent leading to a desperate it-just-might-work scheme.

The contrived scenario offers a half-hearted examination of fractured family dynamics while teeing up a predictable road to reconciliation — where in the end, everyone is forced to straighten their priorities and find common ground.

At least the four youngsters have chemistry as real-life siblings making their acting debuts. The film is very loosely based on their quirky small-town lives, and operating within their comfort zone enhances their playful screen presence.

That leads to some lovely interludes, such as a montage in which they scatter ashes into a bonfire, or Mike relaying the plot of Rambo as a bedtime story.

It’s nice to see a contemporary portrait of childhood not cluttered by electronic screens or forced hipness. Still, Nutcrackers is ultimately not as heartwarming or seasonally cheerful as intended.

Rated PG-13, 104 minutes.