review for Box of Moonlight on AllMovie

Box of Moonlight is about learning to break free from constricting, middle-class conventions in order to appreciate the unusual and unpredictable aspects of life. So it's ironic that this "personal" film is so tightly bound by Hollywood conventions. It's really just another road movie in which a stereotypically uptight guy learns to enjoy life from a lovable, free-spirited eccentric. In this film, the eccentric is called the Kid (Sam Rockwell) in an apparent attempt to remind viewers that he represents the lost innocence of childhood. While the Kid has his share of interesting little quirks -- such as dressing like Davy Crockett, dealing stolen lawn ornaments, and thinking he can capture moonbeams in a box -- he is often more irritating than charming. Despite (or perhaps because of) these annoying qualities, Rockwell has a reasonably good rapport with John Turturro on the screen. Although Al Fountain is hardly a mold-breaking character, Turturro does an effective job of conveying his rigid, inhibited personality in his lurching gait, stiff posture, forced smile, and rehearsed conversations. Unfortunately, the oddball supporting characters that the pair meet aren't particularly fascinating. DiCillo regular Catherine Keener stands out as Floatie Dupre, a likable woman who suffers from poor self-esteem, but she's underused in the film; the other cast members, including Dermont Mulroney and Lia Blount, give good performances in unremarkable roles. Some of the comic scenes are fairly amusing and this movie has its share of appealing moments, but the narrative meanders and the movie is nothing special overall.