Nick Hamm’s Gigi & Nate is amiable, but ultimately empty. Yes, the story is sentimental and will likely tug at your heartstrings, but sadly its done in an overly manipulative manner. But, while the movie doesn’t necessarily “earn” your tears, it does put its best foot forward when it comes to underlining themes of hope, resilience, and what having strength is really all about. In other words, it’s well meaning. The same can be said for the job our cast of actors do. This is especially the case for Charlie Rowe, who plays the titular disabled Nate with all the sensitivity and humanity you’d hope for. As for the monkey, well, it is admittedly pretty cute. Yup, the boy/animal friendship is sweet, no doubt going to make you want to hug your own pets when you return from the cinema. There are also some heartfelt family moments to be found (Marcia Gay Harden and Jim Belushi do their darndest). But in the end, it’s all on the level of some Hallmark TV movie. Actually, scratch that, it’s pretty much on the level of a Hallmark greeting card.