Starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Keri Russell, Freddie Highmore, Robin Williams

Opens November 21

MUSIC connects us to life and to each other in much the same way that love does. This point is made explicitly in the opening scene of August Rush when 11-year-old Evan (Freddie Highmore), an orphan boy who has never once wavered in his belief that his true parents will one day claim him, is seen conducting a flowing field of wheat with the rapt concentration of a Lincoln Center conductor.

But it might as well have been a cornfield, because in many ways we're up to our eyes in it right from the opening scene. It would be fair to say that August Rush treads a perilous high wire between sentiment and sentimentality, and the real surprise is how deftly it (almost) avoids falling in, thanks in no small part to Irish director Kirsten Sheridan, Oscar nominated for screenwriting the film In America in 2004 with her father Jim and sister Naomi.

The film starts with Evan, a boy in a lifelong quest to find his parents. Years earlier a series of remarkably unfortunate events contrived to separate the child from his parents - and then his parents from each other - and 11 long lonely years have passed.

But Evan never loses heart, not even for a moment, and he eventually sets out on a remarkable Oliver Twist-like quest to be reunited with the parents he lost (played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Keri Russell).

It's an unabashedly romantic premise and each of the principle actors play it to the hilt. One would need to have a heart of stone, in fact, not to laugh at all the testing times that await Evan.

Once in the city, where he was led, we are asked to believe, by the sound of music, our young hero makes his way through a thicket of outrageous coincidences and blatant contrivances that seem to have been concocted in a laboratory to make you weep. But the funny thing is, they do. You may hate yourself, but I assure you you'll be powerless to resist.

The secret weapon in the impressive armory of August Rush is the work of its award winning composer Mark Mancina. He's crafted a rapturous score that simply catapults the film into another dimension.

In many ways there are stark parallels between August Rush and the distinctly low budget little Irish musical that could called Once, released earlier this year. Both films feature an Irish musician and involve a love story set to a rousing score.

But while Once concerned itself with small scale and utterly believable characters and scenarios, August Rush wants to super size the stakes as it raises the roof.

Evan soon finds himself in the care of the Wizard (played by Robin Williams, floundering in an underwritten role) and his troop of feisty but fair orphan boys. These young outlaws and their weather-beaten leader live in a massive but faded theater that looks like a cross between a 19th century playhouse and a Duran Duran video. It's no coincidence that these scenes are among the hardest to stomach in the whole film.

Poor Evan might quickly wallow among such dubious company, but wouldn't you know, he has a special talent. Before you can say you have got to be kidding me, our young hero wins a scholarship to Julliard, where he is instantly recognized as an infant prodigy.

Moments after he learns to play, he learns to compose for a full orchestra - stay with me here - and moments after that he's booked to play a concert in Central Park.

Evan knows that if he can broadcast his music through the center of Manhattan he can reunite his parents and be reunited with them himself.

By now some of you are already logging on to Fandango to book your tickets - and some of you have started projectile vomiting - but whatever side you fall down on I can assure you that August Rush will surpass your expectations.

For Rhys Meyers, August Rush is an important breakout film where he finally gets to play a straightforward romantic lead. To date most directors have found something slightly sinister in his ostentatious prettiness, and so it must be a relief to him to play against type.

He is ably assisted by Russell, who proves her range by bringing reality and gravitas to this remarkably slight role.

However, the real joy of August Rush is the score, as it lifts and soars above all the tripwires set to make you cry.

The film will compete against major Thanksgiving releases when it opens on November 21. Hopefully it will find its audience and not get lost in the holiday shuffle.