Mr. Harrigan (Donald Sutherland), the millionaire reclusive businessman of a sleepy town gradually becomes friends with the teenager whom he pays to read to him. When Craig (Jaeden Martell) begins High School the very first mobile phones are coming to the market and using a winning lottery ticket given to him by Mr. Harrigan he buys his benefactor a phone which they can communicate through. 

Of course with this being a movie based on a Stephen King short story there is a supernatural element involved. When Mr. Harrigan dies Craig decides to place his phone in his pocket and is surprised to find that when he leaves him a voicemail or text he gets a reply. 

Mr. Harrigan’s Phone is the epitome of a gentle and passingly enjoyable film. Its characters and themes are intriguing but not fully fleshed out. The acting performances from Donald Sutherland and Jaeden Martell are engaging but not captivating. Whilst its ending is underwhelming and only mildly satisfying. 

It really does feel like a short story. One that has a kernel of a good idea but has never grown into anything more and the film adaptation has not managed to elevate it. On the other hand though it is not a bad or boring watch. It’s just mildly interesting and I suspect mostly forgettable.