'DECEMBER BOYS' IS ALL ABOUT SUMMER'S WARMTH.

Byline: EVAN HENERSON

>LA.COM 

Common wisdom would dictate that life as an orphan is no day at the beach. For the four fortunate lads of "December Boys," however, orphandom is an entire summer at a seaside cove so secluded and picturesque that the city limits sign ought to read "Young Man's Paradise -- Population: about 10, not counting the fish."

Based on the novel by Michael Noonan, and guided with the softest of touches by director Ron Hardy, "December Boys" concerns itself with friendship far more than with rivalry. There may indeed be a prize worth coming to blows over at summer's end, but the D.B.'s (so named because they share the same birth month) know that camaraderie is thicker than water. Or gruel, as the case may be.

Actually, the Catholic orphanage that the boys inhabit before they head for the Australian shore doesn't seem so wretched either. Our lads have a liberal supply of presumably contraband cigarettes and lingerie magazines. Heck, when the youngest, Misty (played by Lee Cormie), closes his eyes, he dreams of nuns radiating heavenly light and doing cartwheels on the beach.

The oldest is Maps (Daniel Radcliffe, best-known as Harry Potter), who is close enough to 18 to realize his chances of adoption are virtually nil. A few years younger are Sparks (Christian Byers), Spit (James Fraser) and the aforementioned Misty, who -- in addition to being pious -- isn't above a bit of deviousness if it means securing a mom and dad.

Some five minutes into the film, a benefactor of the orphanage has ponied the funds for some boys to spend the summer down at the shore. And quicker than you can say "dusty pickup ride across the Outback," the boys are tumbling down dunes, taunting fishermen and taking motorcycle rides through the surf with a local carnival worker whose wife (hint, hint) is childless. Oh, they're asked to say grace once in a while, but the boys pretty much get a free run.

There's even a love interest for Maps, an impossibly pretty local gal named Lucy (Teresa Palmer) who is big on initiation. "I want you to remember me as your first," she says, snuggling up to Maps. "No worries," the delighted kid returns.

And won't the Harry Potter faithful be just tickled over these developments! Radcliffe -- in full benevolent leadership -- clearly has a future as a young adult performer once he shelves Harry Potter's wand once and for all. "December Boys" is, in large respect, his movie. Plucky little Cormie, whose adult version narrates the tale, has his moments, too, although odds are, his character would routinely get stomped by vindictive orphanage mates.

"December Boys" is, as indicated, not that kind of a movie. The adults are all kindhearted and principled. The kids may grow up to emulate them, and the landscape (the film was shot in Adelaide and at a place called Kangaroo Island) is to die for. Here's a movie for summer's end if ever there was one.

evan henerson, [phone]

[e-mail]

DECEMBER BOYS - Three stars

>PG-13: sexual content, nudity, underage drinking and smoking.

>Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Lee Cormie, Christian Byers, James Fraser, Jack Thompson.

>Director: Ron Hardy.

>Running time: 1 hr. 45 min.

>Playing: ArcLight, AMC Century City 15.

>In a nutshell: Orphans stick together on an Aussie summer vacation.

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Daniel Radcliffe, centers, stars as one of four orphans who spends the summer on the coast in "December Boys."