Haig’s writing raises some compelling questions that may have no answers, including whether or not Kipling actually felt responsible for the demise of his son and whether or not the personal tragedy changed his political mindset. We do know that Kipling wrote the title poem, but the poem doesn’t hint at much by way of regret. On the contrary, it appears that Kipling’s words in the poem almost put the issue to rest within: “Because he was the son you bore/and gave to that wind blowing and that tide!”

Radcliffe is quite good as Jack Kipling, but far too little time is given to the development of some key elements of his character. We never learn how he gets to be such a respected member of the Irish Guards, nor do we really discern any hints of leadership skills in the scenes prior to his departure for the war. Instead, Radcliffe’s character evolves unnaturally and unevenly.

The battle scenes are directed rather sloppily, almost seeming like a high school gym was used as a double for the battlefield. Wobbly-cam effects are used, of course, and director Brian Kirk overdoes it to the point that it almost looks as though he’s trying to convince us that a documentary filmmaker was following the fighters at Loos. No matter.

The DVD features a set of small interviews with Radcliffe, Haig, and Cattrall. Each discusses what brought them to the parts they took and what the project meant to them personally. There are also some deleted scenes, but nothing extraordinary.  

Overall, My Boy Jack is another pedestrian entry in the made-for-TV period piece genre. While the production values are quite good, the performances never quite reach further than they have to and the whole piece is rather bland.