"Gifted" presents a slightly above-average child custody drama involving an uncle, his niece and his mother. McKenna Grace makes a winning impression as a six-year-old math prodigy whose mother committed suicide, leaving her in the care of her brother played by Chris Evans. The good uncle wants the little girl to grow up normal. The bad grandmother wants the kid to go to private school and devote her life to math. Lindsay Duncan plays the custody-seeking grandmother with a touch too much of Cruella de Vil. Octavia Spencer appears as a kindly next-door neighbor. Jenny Slate plays an elementary teacher (and love interest) for Evans, who brings a lot of good guy energy to this story. I had some trouble with the resolution and don't really believe it. "Gifted" doesn't go beyond the expected "Kramer vs. Kramer" plot line, but the girl at the center of the story wins our heart. 2½ stars, PG-13. Does it deliver what it promises? Tear jerker, child custody drama. Is it entertaining? The kid is cute. Is it worth the price of admission? Not as good as expected.
