Yes, it's true. The Fly Boys, not to be confused with the World War 1 film from 2006, is finally making it's theatrical bow. What makes the film so special? Well, aside from being shot locally by St. George's very own Rocco DeVilliers, it has thrills, edge, and a lot of heart.

In The Fly Boys, Jesse James and Reiley McClendon play young boys who find themselves stowaways aboard a plane owned by the mob. This frightening scenario is but the tip of the iceberg. Where the story goes from there is novel and creative and is sure to surprise you.

Rocco DeVilliers is a maverick film-maker along the lines of Robert Rodriguez. He's extremely adept at delivering alot of movie on a small budget. Back in the early 90's DeVilliers wrote and directed an incredibly creative and crafty (to call it low budget would be a gross understatement) thriller called Pure Race, and for whatever reason, El Mariachi came out of nowhere and stole it's thunder. It's a shame, because the sky might have been the limit for DeVilliers had he been given the same opportunities as Rodriguez. DeVilliers really does wonderful work here. Not only does he pull winning and perfectly spot-on performances from his young leads, but he dazzles with top notch action sequences. There's a breathtaking sky diving sequence in this picture that's every bit as exhilarating as any action piece you'll see in a film this summer.

The Fly Boys was written by Rocco, his brother Jason, and Richard Dutcher from a story by Rocco and Gregory C. Haynes. The pace is brisk, thanks mostly to a nifty story structure, and the overall tone of the picture reminded me of those wonderful adventure flicks of the 80's. I'm talking films like Explorers. Pictures that captured the adventurous spirit of youth.

The performances are terrific right across the board. Young leads Jesse James and Reiley McClendon are lively and natural. What really took me by surprise were the strong turns by Stephen Baldwin and Tom Sizemore. Not that they haven't been great in the past, but it's certainly been a while and they're the kind of performances that could revitalize the career of both. This is Baldwin's strongest work since his manic performance in The Usual Suspects. As Silvio Esposito, Baldwin is low key and effective. Tom Sizemore is equally subtle as Silvio's big brother and mob man Angelo. I thought I knew what these two men were about from the get go, but I'm happy to report I was wrong. Their relationship is one of the strongest attributes of the entire picture and it provides a perfect contrast to the friendship that develops between Jesse and Reiley. Sizemore is surprisingly warm and playful here. Not at all what I expected from a man with a mobster mentality. Outstanding work.

The Fly Boys is family entertainment, but what I really admire about the film is its edge. Rocco doesn't shy away from taking the picture into some really edgy directions. Unlike Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, there is a true sense of peril in this picture. There were moments when I wasn't even entirely certain if key characters would make it out alive. And his awe-inspiring use of southern Utah locations is worth the price of admission by itself.

The Fly Boys is further proof that a film doesn't need to have a $100 million budget to work it's magic. With limited funds and razor sharp ingenuity, Rocco DeVillier's has delivered an outstanding entertainment. I suspect that after audiences embrace this picture, he'll be one sought after commodity.

Grade: B+