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Delivering Milo
Delivering Milo
Delivering Milo
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Delivering Milo
Directed byNick Castle
Written by
Produced by
  • Heidi Levitt
  • Deepak Nayar
  • Heriberto Schoeffer
Starring
CinematographyWilly Kurant
Edited byPatrick Kennedy
Peck Prior
Music byCraig Safan
Production
company
Distributed byHannover House
Release date
  • October 28, 2001 (2001-10-28)
Running time
94 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Delivering Milo is a 2001 American fantasy comedy film written by David Hubbard and directed by Nick Castle. Anton Yelchin stars as Milo, while Bridget Fonda and Campbell Scott play his parents.[1] Albert Finney stars as Elmore Dahl, a guardian angel sent to convince a soul that life on Earth is worth living.

Plot

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Elizabeth and Kevin live in NYC in the loft above his glassblowing studio and are expecting their first child. Believing she has gone into labor, they hurry to the hospital. But, once there, the obstetrician tells her she was having Braxton Hicks contractions.

The reality is that in the world from which babies come, Milo is too scared to leave the comfortable place where he has lived. He looks about 11 years old in this place despite not being born yet. Since babies must be born in order, no other babies will be born until he changes his mind. The people in charge have no idea what to do as no baby has ever refused. An old man named Elmore volunteers to show Milo that life is worth it. Elmore is trapped in a sort of limbo until he is determined worthy of Heaven, though he would much rather be back on Earth as he finds limbo to be very boring.

Seeing a chance, Elmore bargains with the powers that be. He must get Milo to say he wants to be born in exchange for more time on Earth. To convince Milo to accompany him, he takes advantage of the boy's love of cards games and tricks. They let the cards decide, and Elmore is triumphant.

Elizabeth calls her mom, updating her. She mentions she saw a man who looked like her father who'd abandoned them years ago.

Elmore and Milo exit through a door which normally serves only as an entrance. Outside is the energetic and terrifying New York City. Elmore loves it, but Milo doesn't want to be in this scary place.

Milo is introduced to a deli, ice cream and Central Park. He initially loves food which he has never needed before. However, once his natural bodily functions kick in and he needs the toilet, he is less convinced. A call from above suggests that Elmore try to inspire Milo's soul, but a museum visit has the opposite effect.

As the day goes on, the big news story seen in the background is the lack of births globally. This is a reminder of how Milo's doubt and refusal to be born has affected the world.

Cleaning up the studio after a pipe burst, Elizabeth finds a bag with Atlantic City paraphernalia that belonged to her father. She plays blackjack with her husband's workmate, and doing well, she impulsively goes to Atlantic City. Almost simultaneously Elmore takes Milo there too, as he loved to gamble when he was alive.

Milo's mind has not been changed and there is a deadline: at midnight, the door that the souls go through to be born will close, and no more babies will ever be born. In Atlantic City, Milo and Elizabeth meet. Milo realizes that Elizabeth is his mother, and decides he wants to be born. He also realizes that Elmore is the father who had abandoned Elizabeth and therefore his grandfather. Elmore and Milo return to the door. Milo, however, is too weak to make it through the door on his own, as his time is nearly up. He begins to die since he will never be born. Elmore, feeling remorse for how he treated his family in life takes Milo back through the door, giving up his chance to stay on Earth. Elmore accuses the people in charge of setting him up, as they knew Elmore would not be able to leave Milo to die. They don’t deny it, however, they remind him that he was given a choice. Milo is finally born and Elmore can finally ascend from limbo to heaven.

Cast

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See also

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References

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Delivering Milo

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from Grokipedia
Delivering Milo is a American film directed by . The story centers on an unborn child named Milo who hesitates to be born, prompting a to convince him that life on Earth is worth embracing , as his mother endures prolonged labor. Produced by and Immi Pictures, the film explores themes of life's value through a whimsical, high-concept narrative that reverses traditional tropes. The film features a notable , including in the voice role of Milo, as the angel Elmore Dahl, as the expectant mother Elizabeth, and as her husband Kevin. With a runtime of 94 minutes and a PG rating, it blends humor and heartfelt moments, focusing on Milo's adventures in a pre-birth limbo mansion. The project had its North American premiere at the in January 2001. Upon release, Delivering Milo garnered mixed reception, praised for its original and but criticized for lacking depth and energy. It holds an audience score of 43% on based on over 50 ratings and a 5.7/10 average on from more than 1,400 users. The film conveys an uplifting message about choosing life, particularly in contexts.

Plot and characters

Plot

Delivering Milo is a fantasy comedy-drama directed by . The story centers on Elizabeth (), a stressed executive in who is heavily pregnant with her first child, and her supportive husband Kevin (), an artist struggling with his career. As Elizabeth goes into labor, a global crisis unfolds: no babies are being born anywhere in the world because one soul, Milo (), refuses to enter life, creating a backlog in the pre-birth realm. In a limbo-like known as the Life Training Center, where souls prepare for earthly existence, Milo, a young boy with precognitive abilities, hesitates at the threshold to birth, fearing the pain and uncertainties of life. The angel hierarchy, led by figures like Mr. Gordon, grows urgent as the situation threatens to close to new lives permanently. To resolve this, Elmore Dahl (), a recently deceased gambler and reformed rogue serving as a escort, is assigned the task of convincing Milo within 24 hours. Elmore, seeking his own redemption and ascension to , must show Milo the joys of life on . Elmore takes Milo on an adventurous journey starting in , introducing him to sensory experiences like eating deli sandwiches, ice cream, and playing in —pleasures unknown in the ethereal realm. Milo initially delights in these, but soon grapples with human frailties such as hunger, bodily functions, and emotional vulnerabilities. Their travels extend to Atlantic City, where Elmore confronts his past addictions, revealing personal stakes in the mission. During the trip, Milo meets his future mother Elizabeth in a poignant encounter, witnessing her own fears about motherhood and the world, mirroring his hesitations. A key revelation comes when Milo learns that Elmore is actually his maternal grandfather, adding emotional depth to their bond and emphasizing themes of family legacy. As the 24-hour deadline approaches midnight, the pressure mounts with visions of the bureaucracy's impatience and the real-world chaos from halted births. Through heartfelt discussions and shared experiences, Elmore imparts lessons on , resilience, and the of connections, helping Milo overcome his fears. In the climax, Milo chooses to embrace life, declaring his willingness to be born, which breaks the logjam. Elizabeth successfully delivers Milo, restoring global births, while Elmore, having fulfilled his duty and redeemed himself, ascends to . The narrative concludes on an uplifting note, affirming the value of life's challenges and familial ties.

Cast

The principal cast of Delivering Milo features as Milo, the reluctant soul of the unborn child who hesitates to enter the world. portrays Elmore Dahl, the guardian angel tasked with guiding Milo and revealed as his maternal grandfather. plays Elizabeth, the weary expectant mother enduring prolonged labor. stars as Kevin, Elizabeth's supportive but anxious partner and the child's father. The ensemble is rounded out by a strong supporting cast that populates the film's fantastical pre-birth realm of souls and angels. Notable roles include as Mr. Percival, a secondary angel assisting in Milo's journey; as Mr. Ralph, another ethereal guide; as Mr. Gordon, a fellow inhabitant of the limbo-like space; and as Miss Madelyn, contributing to the otherworldly ensemble of mentors and companions. This supernatural setting allows the actors to explore themes of reluctance and redemption through their characters' interactions. Yelchin's performance marked an early highlight in his career, as the then-12-year-old brought poignant vulnerability to the titular role shortly after his debut.

Production

Development

Originally developed under the working title Walking on Water since the late , the screenplay for Delivering Milo was written by David Hubbard, based on a story conceived by Heidi Levitt and Diana Wagman. The project drew on high-concept fantasy elements, depicting a pre-birth where souls prepare for earthly life, emphasizing themes of , the emotional weight of birth, and guiding hesitant young spirits. Nick Castle, whose prior credits included co-writing the family fantasy Hook (1991), was brought on as director, bringing his experience with whimsical, heartfelt tales to the film's blend of comedy and drama. Producers Heidi Levitt, Deepak Nayar, and Heriberto Schoeffer led the independent production, supported by companies such as and Immi Pictures. was attached early as the lead , adding star power to the ensemble. Development progressed through the late 1990s into early 2000.

Filming

Principal photography for Delivering Milo commenced in 2000, capturing the film's blend of urban realism and fantastical elements across multiple U.S. locations. Shooting primarily occurred in , with urban scenes filmed in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, including exteriors at Broadway and 21st Street, to evoke the bustling everyday life central to the story. Key sequences were lensed in , utilizing the Tropicana Casino & Resort to represent transitional and liminal spaces in the narrative. Additional work took place in , , supporting interior and supplementary setups. Willy Kurant served as , employing techniques to highlight the film's ethereal pre-birth limbo through soft lighting and dreamlike compositions that contrasted with the grounded New York and Atlantic City exteriors. His work contributed to the visual distinction between the soul's otherworldly hesitation and the tangible world below. The production wrapped efficiently, resulting in a 94-minute runtime that balanced intimate character moments with the story's metaphysical scope.

Release and reception

Release

Delivering Milo had its first theatrical release in on January 4, 2001. Its North American premiere was at the later that month. The film was screened at the in May 2001. In the United States, it received a on October 28, 2001, distributed by Hannover House, with screenings confined to select markets. Due to its small-scale rollout, the film generated minimal earnings and leaned toward a trajectory rather than wide commercial success. For home media, Hannover House issued the first DVD release in June 2005. A Blu-ray edition followed in 2016 from . As of November 2025, the film is available for streaming on platforms including and , often with ad-supported options.

Reception

Upon its release, Delivering Milo garnered mixed-to-negative responses from audiences, reflected in its 43% audience score on based on over 50 ratings, where it was characterized as a disappointing effort hampered by a weak and uneven direction. The film fares slightly better on , earning a 5.7 out of 10 rating from over 1,400 user votes; while some praised its heartfelt exploration of life's value and family bonds, others lambasted the acting, describing Albert Finney's portrayal of the guardian angel as overly hammy and Anton Yelchin's performance as the reluctant soul as similarly exaggerated. Audience feedback often highlighted the movie's appeal as a child-friendly fantasy addressing birth and the soul's journey, with positive notes on its uplifting messages about redemption and earthly existence, even as its direct-to-video format limited broader exposure. In terms of legacy, Delivering Milo remains obscure, developing a modest cult following primarily due to Yelchin's early leading role shortly before his rise to prominence, though it earned no major awards or nominations.
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