“Little Manhattan” plays on the theme, “Nothing is as big as your first love,” and that is essentially the story. Young Gabe (Josh Hutcherson) plays the boy whose heart is hit by Cupid’s arrow when he meets Rosemary Telesko (Charlie Ray). Both kids do a commendable job as leads in the film, which for the most part is family friendly. Rosemary is 11 years old and Gabe is, as he puts it, “Ten and three-quarter years old.” This film will remind adults what it was like to be young and to discover first love. Rosemary becomes Gabe’s sparring partner in karate and their friendship develops from there.

There are a few mild profanities scattered throughout the film, but it is minimal. Gabe and Rosemary fight a bully together and rough him up, and they do disobey and wander off from Rosemary’s sitter, but Gabe is punished by his parents for this disobedient act. It should be noted that there is a scene in which the adults drink in front of the children. The most intense the love story gets is hand-holding and a kiss which Gabe quickly steals from Rosemary. Overall, this is a nice story which the family will enjoy and it has likable kids playing the leads.