There is an aside that follows a joke of the gallows humor variety that goes, “Too soon?”.

For me TV movies or major motion pictures about the tragedy of 9-11 will probably always be too soon.

Nevertheless, on Christmas Day a 9-11 film opens at a limited number of theatres called Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.

A young boy, Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn), is still dealing with the death of his father Thomas Schell Jr. (Tom Hanks) in the Twin Towers on September 11^th when he discovers a mysterious envelope with a key inside among his father’s possessions.

In a small, but pivotal role Hanks portrays a SuperFather who spends hours devising expeditions for his son like discovering the missing sixth borough of New York. He is a college graduate who settled for being a jeweler, and that is perhaps his motivation for creating a dynamic world for his son.

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There is also the issue that Oskar may suffer from Asperger’s, though that is massaged by the screenwriter (Eric Roth) by saying tests were not definitive. However, Oskar’s world and the title is derived from his penchant for being disturbed by loud noises and the close up distractions of patterns and colors (shot with enveloping sensitivity by Chris Menges). This serves as just another challenge in the mixed-up post 9-11 world as Oskar sets out to find that lock the mysterious key fits.

Oskar’s quixotic journey to travel New York City to find the lock centers around the word “black” written on the envelope. Assuming the word is meant as a name, Oskar finds the address of every family named Black in the phone book. Every day he sets out to find the lock and meets curious mix of people ranging from the sad (Viola Davis) to the angry. That the New Yorkers he meets are friendlier and even perhaps cartoonish adds a patina of preciousness to the tale. Although there is an explanation of why they are so accepting of him revealed later in the story.

Sandra Bullock also has a limited role as Oskar’s mother who seemingly is too distraught to realize her son is not going to school, but is hiking around New York City with a tambourine in one hand to calm his nerves and is being taken into stranger’s homes.

On his journey, Oskar is joined by a man known only as The Renter (Max Von Sydow) who takes a room in his Grandmother’s apartment across the street. The Renter cannot speak and has the words “Yes” and “No” tattooed on his palms to answer most questions. He also carries a notebook for longer conversations. Their Mutt and Jeff relationship is the heart of the story where The Renter makes silent of observance of Oskar’s sadness and perseverance. He also has many secrets, one of which will provide a measure of healing for Oskar.

The performances are excellent throughout, but especially by Horn in is acting debut. He was discovered as a contestant on the Kid’s Week edition of Jeopardy.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is based upon the 2005 novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, and although I haven’t read it, the film directed by Stephen Daldry doesn’t benefit from the myriad associations I and the public may have with 9-11. The story of grief and recover would have been better served without the unnecessary burden of history. For example, it seems contrived that Hanks, a small jewelry shop owner, finds himself in one of the towers. There are also close up shots of a body falling, presumably from the towers. Many moments will elicit a tear at the remembrance of what Oskar’s character calls “the Worst Day” so bring a hanky or a tissue.

At the advance screening I attended at the Mary Pickford Theatre, Bullock was part of a follow-up panel discussion. She stated her attraction to the project because it unites people through the universal experience of grief.

Ultimately though that message is muddled by the too-adorable characterization by Hanks, the broad New York personalities and the uncomfortable (for me) use of 9-11 as a plot device and ultimately as a form of entertainment.

Extremely Loud is opening in Los Angeles on Christmas Day, but won’t receive wider release until January 20. Christmas would seem to be a dubious debut for this type of film, but there is most likely some calculations by the studio to release it before the new year to garner Oscar consideration.

View the trailer and more by clicking here.