Making your name in film or TV series as a wildly popular fictional character can be a deadly blessing -- the public knows and adores you, but only in the capacity of that fictional character. Just ask talented thespians like James Gandolfini, George Clooney, Harrison Ford -- or Daniel Radcliffe.

Radcliffe burst into the public consciousness as some kid named Harry Potter, the hero of J.K. Rowling's now-iconic series of novels and an ongoing series of equally popular films. To say that he's known only for that particular role must be maddening, but also myopic; Radcliffe is a gifted actor who, thus far, has demonstrated a willingness to pursue his craft in projects far afield from the confines of Hogwarts (the brutal, frankly adult stage play "Equus," a cameo on Ricky Gervais' subtly brilliant series "Extras").

His cinematic explorations have been limited but by no means less adventurous (Radcliffe made his silver screen debut in 2001's The Tailor of Panama and has also appeared in 2007's December Boys), while his handful of TV gigs have been period fare. The latest of these, My Boy Jack, doesn't make the best use of Radcliffe, but it does bolster his non-Potter resume.

Adapted from David Haig's 1997 play (by the author himself) and starring Haig as acclaimed author and impassioned activist Rudyard Kipling, My Boy Jack picks up in 1914, on the brink of World War I. Kipling's eldest son, Jack (Radcliffe), is keen to fight against the Germans, but his poor vision keeps him out of most branches of the military. Kipling, seething over his the treatment of his son, angles for a favor and soon, Jack is enlisted in the Irish Guards, much to the dismay of his American mother Caroline (Kim Cattrall) and his doting sister Elsie (Carey Mulligan). Tragically, as history reveals, he was killed in 1915, inspiring Kipling's famous poem "My Boy Jack."

Directed by Brian Kirk, the film steps lively, never feeling bogged down or stage-bound in any way. The cast is uniformly solid, although Haig seems to fare best in the volatile, vivid role of Rudyard Kipling. Radcliffe isn't given much to do beyond being frustrated, angry and frightened, but he acquits himself well.

This sort of stiff-upper-lip English drama doesn't often allow for much in the way of pathos, but a story such as this does tug at the heart. In fact, that's probably the largest complaint you could lodge against the film: For such an inherently poignant narrative, it's very difficult to connect fully with the characters and their emotions, given the starchy nature of most scenes involving the family. It's not that the film isn't well-cast and well acted, but there's just a certain something that the film lacks, a spark that keeps it from fully blazing to life. My Boy Jack isn't high art, but rather a compelling story, well told.

The Video:

Having not seen the original broadcast on the BBC, I can't speak as to whether the film was originally shown in widescreen, but My Boy Jack arrives on DVD in a clean 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer that does justice to the vintage interiors and the grimy battlefields of France. Sharp, clear and well-saturated, there's nothing to complain about here.

This being an adaptation of a stage play, there's dialogue aplenty and the Dolby 2.0 stereo track handles it all with no problems. The score and occasional sound effects are tastefully rendered, making this aural presentation every bit as acceptable as the visual.

The supplements are slim, but worth a glance if you enjoy the feature presentation: Six minutes, 17 seconds of deleted scenes that aren't essential to the plot (presented in anamorphic widescreen) are included, as are 24 minutes, 16 seconds of in-depth interviews (also presented in anamorphic widescreen) with Radcliffe, Haig and Cattrall.

This sort of stiff-upper-lip English drama doesn't often allow for much in the way of pathos, but a story such as this does tug at the heart. My Boy Jack isn't high art, but rather a compelling story, well told. While the film doesn't make the best use of Daniel Radcliffe (aka Harry Potter), but it does bolster his non-Potter resume. Rent it.