Snapshot
Gifted (2017) follows Mary Adler—a math-whiz kid who’s just lost her family—as she gets caught in a custody battle between her uncle and her grandmother.
Mary lives with her uncle, Frank Adler, after her mother’s death, and he’s taken on the role of raising her.
Even though Mary is a math prodigy, Frank wants her to have a normal, happy childhood, rather than being pushed too hard into academics.
The film focuses on Frank as he tries to give Mary a normal life while navigating the family conflict over her custody.
What the movie is really about
At its core, this movie is about the tension between identity and choice.
On the surface, it’s a story about a child prodigy and a custody fight, but the real question you walk out of the theater with is this: how should someone actually support a gifted child?
The film shows the emotional and moral side of raising a gifted kid. Should achievement matter more than giving them a normal, happy childhood? The scenes in the movie raise the question: Is that compromise worth it for the child? Frank’s choices highlight how important it is for caregivers to protect a child’s well-being, even when others want to push them toward “greatness.”
Gifted reminds me of Good Will Hunting, and even certain scenes from Magnolia. All three explore the same idea: a gifted person trying to figure out who they are and what kind of life they want, instead of a life that they can have.
At the heart of the story is Mary herself. She isn’t just her talent—she’s a kid with her own wants, relationships, and a right to grow up on her own terms. The film questions our obsession with achievement and the cost of pushing children too hard.
Ideas that resonated with me
The storyline in Gifted is well-paced and never gets in the way of the movie’s flow. The theme itself is simple and fairly common—nothing groundbreaking.
But what makes the film stand out to me is its attention to detail.
One example comes from an early scene where Frank (Chris Evans) is talking with Mary (McKenna Grace). He casually explains some basic philosophical ideas about God, and I remember thinking, “How can Frank break down these concepts so well? What’s his background?”
Later in the film, we learn he used to be a philosophy professor. That reveal was a satisfying little “ah-ha” moment. Details like these are what elevate a movie beyond the norm.
I’ve always believed a movie is only as strong as its actors, and Gifted proves that point. Considering how young McKenna Grace was at the time, her performance is incredible. And it’s always nice to see Chris Evans step into a grounded, emotional role and deliver. The strength and chemistry of these two roles is what makes the movie genuinely memorable.
Moments that left a mark on me
Mary Adler: Is there a God?
Frank Adler: I don’t know.
Mary Adler: Just tell me.
Frank Adler: I would if I could. But I don’t know. Neither does anybody else.
Mary Adler: Roberta knows.
Frank Adler: No. Roberta has faith… And that’s the great thing to have. But faith’s about what you think, feel. Not what you know.
Mary Adler: What about Jesus?
Frank Adler: Love that guy. Do what he says.
Mary Adler: But, is he God?
Frank Adler: I don’t know. I have an opinion. But that’s my opinion, and I could be wrong. So why would I screw up yours? Use your head. But don’t be afraid to believe in things either.
Mary Adler: Huh. There was a guy on TV who said there was no God.
Frank Adler: The only difference between the atheists on TV and Roberta is that Roberta loves you. She’s trying to help. Tell you what, though. One way or another we all end up back together in the end. That’s what you’re asking, right?
Mary Adler: Yep.
Frank Adler: Okay. Find something else to worry about, will ya?
Mary Adler: All right.
How did the movie change the way I think?
It’s easy to confuse our identity with our choices.
It’s better to focus on what we like, even if we’re not that good at it, rather than doing something we don’t really like, even though we have all the skills to do it.
Because, in the long run, we’re unlikely to create much value for others by doing things we don’t like, no matter how talented we are.
But if we spend more time on what we enjoy, even if we’re not great at it at first, we can eventually produce far more value—both for ourselves and for others.