Dramatizing the two boys' respective insecurities and strengths, Gondry has crafted a pair of loners who complement each other but aren't so outrageously different that their companionship feels forced.

We appreciate the unique personalities of these two kids, and we're glad they found each other.

The laughs are sometimes bigger than expected, and so are the emotions stirred by the bittersweet finale.

Much like the work of Mark Twain, 'Microbe and Gasoline' is a warm and welcoming shade of rose-tinted glasses.