Aimed at older children, this gentle, gender-bending coming-of-age drama set in Ireland centers on the friendship between bookish, outcast Irish lad Chris and the new kid in town, Joe, an all-American boy. Whereas Chris is wimpy and bullied by the village toughs, Joe is strong, clever and the best fighter around. When Joe befriends Chris, it looks as if things will be improving. At it least it does until Chris finds out that Joe is actually Joanne. Orphaned by her parents, former tightrope walkers, she has been living with her cruel, woman-hating Uncle Curt, an embittered ex-acrobat who make her pose as a male. Joe's main female influence comes from Chris' mother a feminist sculptor of Rubenesque goddess statues. Unfortunately, Uncle Curt doesn't want her associating with her. Poor Joe also finds some solace helping Simon, her parents former coach who became a depressive clown after their fatal accident.
~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide