The two most misleading phrases used to review movies are "A good date movie" and "Good family film." All too often, the former is used to describe some insipid romance lacking in any true depth or meaning, while the latter is used as a label for banal, inoffensive so-called entertainment that is pawned off on children.

As to alleged "Date Movies", think of anything starring Kate Hudson since her debut in the poignant "Almost Famous." With regard to the latter, pause for a moment and remember "The Wild Hogs", not to mention any recent Cub Gooding, Jr. or Ice Cube movie.

Which leads me to this review of the most underrated true family film of 2007, namely "The Water Horse." Centered around the legend of the Loch Ness Monster, this movie is charming, endearing and never panders to the children in all of us.

Regardless of its flaws (some of the characters are admittedly rather one-dimensional), this movie tells the genuinely moving story of a little boy discovering a large egg on the shores of Loch Ness during World War II. As he did with his role in the equally underrated "Millions" (2005), Alex Etel is a young actor who is as cute as he is genuine.

With his father missing in World War II, the British Army decides to station some soldiers on his mother's (played by the always credible Emily Watson) Scottish estate. Filmed on location in Scotland, the scenery in this movie is stunning and beautiful. It reminded me of the cinematography that dominated the illustrious "Local Hero" (1983), directed by Bill Forsyth.

As the egg hatches and the young "Water Horse" begins to grow, Etel and his sister enlist the help of a wounded war veteran, played by Ben Chaplin, who is working as a handyman for their mother. The drama that ensues deals with the soldiers' attempt to monitor the coastline for German submarines as the children try to figure out what to do with their fast growing pet.

This movie has a lot of the same feel of the superior "Into the West" (1992), a film directed by Mike Newell and written by the extraordinarily talented Jim Sheridan. In that great movie, a mystical horse leads two young boys on a journey that literally takes them into the arms of their dead mother while it simultaneously enables their father, played by Gabriel Byrne, to rediscover his family.

Here, as the "Water Horse" (called Caruso) is returned to his home in the Loch, the quarreling adults are forced to set aside their petty differences and confront the commonality of our existence. While I obviously understand that life isn't fair, it is astounding to me that lightweight nonsense like "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" would be a box office success and this little, mystical film would fall by the wayside. Families are missing it to their detriment.

The movie is told by way of flashbacks when two young travelers meet an old stranger (the gifted Brian Cox) in a pub in Scotland. The story itself is cute but never maudlin; has genuine pathos yet a sense of whimsy; and leaves you with slightly moist eyes in the end if you are not careful.

Take some kids and go see it. I took both of my grandchildren, Connor and Calen, and they were enthralled from beginning to end.

Then go rent "Into the West", "Millions" and Jim Sheridan's "In America." All of these stories are fun, magical and treat children as children. See if you don't agree.