Goodness.. the little boy was a horrible actor
For a movie like this, it’s essential to have charming exchanges between the two leads — here that is Gloria and Phil.
Now Gloria was good. She was likeable, credible, charismatic. The problem is Phil.
Phil couldn’t speak well (no matter if that was deliberate or not; his inability to communicate hurt any possible chemistry between him and Gloria). His character was rude. He acted stupidly (“Hey, why did you shoot my friend’s father?”).
The little boy was also a terrible actor: I think about his facial expression when he sees Gloria in Pittsburgh — cringeworthy!!
This movie could have been a iconic masterpiece if they swapped Phil with a more charismatic kid.