User reviews

Adapted from John Irving's best seller, "The World According to Garp" is one of the strangest movie I've ever had to see, I guess I mean it as a compliment although I didn't put my expectations very high. The film starts with Jenny Fields, Glenn Close as the central character, she's the caring and loving mother of Garp, but it's only until we hear the context of his conception that we realize the child was promised to a very peculiar destiny.

Should I describe how Garp was born? This is one of the film's many surprises that pop up between two or three 'normal' scenes. But the intriguing parts are indeed so intriguing that we tend to believe this Garp is exceptional, a sort of autistic child floating within his own reverie. The film starts with a memorable animated sequence featuring Garp with his unknown father, a jet-pilot during WWII who died before he was born. While both father and son are fighting in the air a monster-like death, the surrealistic sequence brings some poetry to the movie, illustrating the capacity of a child to conceal hidden wounds through imagination. This is one of the inspirational messages I could relate to : inspiration and imagination do exorcise inner demons, especially during childhood.

Then, when the young Garp turns out to be a wannabe writer, I'm not surprised, but the fact that he is a normal kind of disappoints me. I didn't know what to expect either, with this misleading shot of Robin Williams smiling at the sky. Finally, I'm glad he was a rather nice and serious guy, I don't think I could have endured the typical Robin Williams for two hours. Maybe it's the title that misled me, referring to the world rather than "Garp", it's not even the world from his perspective, but simply the world that revolves around him. Garp is not a passive person although he has one characteristic that undermines his freedom of acts, the mother's influence. Glenn Close plays a strong-willed, independent nurse, with an ambiguous relationship with her son, angry when he lusts toward his future wife, played by Mary Beth Hurt, and eager to follow him to discover the world. She's supportive and caring but maybe a bit too much.

And when Garp decides to become a writer, his turning point strangely coincides with his mother's. Since nothing special happened to him so far, he writes about his mother, what she totally disapproves stating that only she has the right to write about herself. Then Garp becomes a fictional writer, specializing on short stories, and Jenny writes a feminist manifesto based on her own experience and titled "Sexual Suspects". Inspired from her own experience and many encounters in the big city, Jenny became a political phenomenon, a cult idol, while Garp, less successful but more critically praised can only resign to the satisfaction of being a writer, and at least, being as successful as a family man. After all, who can complain about accomplishing a personal dream and being able to live through it?

And it's at that point that no matter how disjointed and peculiar some scenes were, I was immersed in the story of Garp following the little world of so many memorable characters. Those who stick to mind are Roberta, an ex-football athlete who became a woman: John Lithgow is absolutely remarkable, beyond believability, what starts as a gag turns out to be a poignant and sweet performance, Roberta is immediately accepted by the family, by Garp, and Lithgow has such a way to play it, we never feel it unrealistic. There is also 'Poo', the sister of Garp's childhood love-life, a jealous mute girl characterized by big horn-rimmed glasses and an incapability to smile, to life and in general , the closest figure to an antagonist, her appearances suggest a misfortune to happen, but the film is so full of them that we're never really off-guard and always expect a disaster to happen.

There is also a very interesting sub-story involving a group of feminist who called themselves, the Ellen Jamesians in homage to Ellen James, a young girl who was not only raped, but had her tongue cut-off by her rapists so she wouldn't give her names. To Garp's big shock, the feminist voluntarily cut their tongue, An act of desperate unison rather than self-mutilation, but the way Garp perceives it, these women are dangerous. Never judgmental, the film allows us to make up our own opinions: ,adultery is also a recurrent theme, and the victims are not innocent. The film is a chronicle of things happening, and connecting to each other, for the best and sometimes for the worse, and for a worse that can be devastating or hilarious. George Roy Hill's direction, either deliberately or not, use a lot of suspense without forcing.

And oddly enough, it's because we feel bad omens and sad events that were grabbed to the story and enjoy the little moments of joy and tenderness. The movie teases our emotions but never forcing them, it also never patronizes us, but it's full of some insights. It kind of reminded me of "Forrest Gump" without the Pop-culture thing, a sort of picaresque journey within one's own world, indeed "The World according to Garp". Robin Williams delivers one of his best performances, in all nuance and sobriety, while it's Glenn Close and John Lithgow who steal the show.

And still, I feel I have to watch it again … the film is one strange adventure into life that deserves probably more than one viewing, I'm not sure I will find more answers, but there are some characters' motives that are still mysterious to me, and "The World According to Garp" is definitely worthy for more recognition.

For adventurous tastes: John Irving's book becomes big, intentionally absurd, thought-provoking, violent comedy-drama about a writer who survived a highly unconventional upbringing, his odyssey through life fraught with comic calamities and bleak tragedy. Calling this movie 'a mixed bag' is an understatement; it careens wide-eyed through a tempest of different emotions and tones, but the fundamental weakness is that we never get close to these people. Robin Williams gives a solid lead performance (one of his first critically-acclaimed 'grown up' roles that took many by surprise), and Glenn Close has an amazing presence as mother Jenny (it's a one-note role without much shading, though Close almost overcomes that). Still, the filmmakers observe these characters almost clinically, and so they remain aloof from us. John Lithgow's performance as a transsexual is probably the warmest, and Amanda Plummer has amazing intensity in just one small scene. The queasy tendency to lump together sexual matters and bloodshed is more disturbing than darkly comic, and the finale is fancifully pointless--as if the whole film were a shaggy-dog story. ** from ****

The World According to Garp is a very strange movie that I think I liked more than I disliked. It has some truly baffling stuff in it (there's a car accident at one point, and the way the scene ends - a freezeframe and a long, drawn-out close-up on one character - is just so jarring in a way that I don't think worked the way the filmmakers wanted it to), but some of the non-sequitur moments I liked... some guy just flying a plane into the side of a house during one seemingly peaceful scene early on. That's the kind of chaotic comedy that makes me love something like The Blues Brothers or It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World so dearly.

The cast is very good here, but I guess most of the big names here were still pretty close to the start of their careers - Robin Williams, Glenn Close, and John Lithgow, mostly. It's kind of a life story about one weird kid who grows up to be a weird man, and though I never quite understood what his deal was, the film was still interesting. It has a strange blend of comedy and tragedy, and it's messy, but in a way that kind of works. Life is chaotic, and there are right and wrong ways to get that message across on screen... I guess The World According to Garp mostly gets it right, even if I wasn't quite as moved as maybe I was supposed to be.

For the performances, unique tone, and general solid filmmaking, I feel like it's a worthwhile watch. It's a tad overlong, and borderline too weird at points, but it's interesting. It is one of those Robin Williams movies that feels particularly sad to watch since his passing, though... we hear When I'm 64 by The Beatles at a couple of points in the film, and Williams passed away at 63, which did make a surprisingly already quite sad film even sadder (the inverse of Hey Jude... taking a sad song and making it sadder - "Bye Jude"?)

Based on the best-selling novel by John Irving, here is the big screen equivalent of a good read. Robin Williams almost plays it down, but thoroughly shines in the title role as T.S.Garp in this, his first proper feature film(well you can hardly include 'Popeye' in that category!).

This is an amazingly rare look at a story that evolves around happiness, sadness, heartbreak, love, and all the other natural emotions that this young,up and coming novelist experiences throughout his far from normal existence that culminates in a dark satire on many comical situations.

Some great moments to be had including a great performance from John Lithgow as the transsexual ex-football player who befriends Garp and his Worldly renowned Women's lib Mother played brilliantly by Glenn Close in her film debut.

You'll laugh... especially at the way Garp was conceived and to find out what his initials T.S. actually stand for. You'll rejoice... at the moment when Garp finds out he is to become a father for the first time. You'll cry...many times...

This movie has got to be one of the most underrated masterpieces of the 1980's, and in many ways sustains a cult following as being one of Robin Williams' first major movie projects.

Don't let this one get away-it doesn't deserve to be missed!

Many people criticize a film based on how close it relates and carries over from its novel or written form.

However, knowing up front that this film is NOT the book and dares to actually go in different directions than the book, may allow for a

viewer to be a bit more open about the point of the story and not necessarily the story itself.

I adore the novel. When the film came out I was crass about how much was omitted or changed or embellished. But then, several years later, I watched it again. I was amazed at how many of the unknown actors I'd seen before had become huge Hollywood staples (John Lithgow's amazing performance, Glenn Close, Robin Williams, Hume & Jessica, Mary Beth Hurt, the wonderful Swoosie Kurtz, the godess Amanda Plummer,

and even a cameo from John Irving himself!).

This film is alive with brilliant talent. And let's not forget the music as well. From the opening score of the Beatles, WHEN I'M 64 to the closing sounds of the helicopter, this films sountrack alone is worth drawing attention - simple, honest, pure.

There is magic in this film that makes it a timeless, yet period piece.

If the viewer compares it to the novel, there may be disappointment or disapproval. However, allowed to stand alone, this film will surely endear itself to any viewer's heart.

Adapting a novel to the screen is fraught with difficulties, and "The World According to Garp" meets those difficulties brilliantly. It is not slavishly faithful to the book as far as details go, but it omits those elements which will not translate well and makes whatever changes are needed to make the story work on film. Robin Williams is a fine Garp, Glenn Close is absolutely perfect as Jenny Garp (her performance was one of the few times I've seen the exact character I'd pictured in my head when I read the book up on the screen), and John Lithgow is funny and touching as transsexual Roberta Muldoon.

A film about a depressed lonely man searching for meaning in life. Real people telling stories, and life in all its possibilities. The lead actor wrote the script so its no wonder he tells the story brilliantly and with conviction. We immediately understand all the characters or at least try to. We even care about them....not something you can say for all films. A movie about going home....what we all fear at some point....especially for those of us who have been away for a while. We have changed and don't want those people who know the old us to think of us in that way any more. We must go and face our fears......and only when we do that can we find the truth and grow. Some may find this film slow moving, but I like the stillness, the unspoken, the subtle....its real. Sometimes we realize, like the main character, that our parents created all our issues, fears, and blocks in our life. So we accept these and learn from them.....and try to not be that way with our children. I guess this film makes me get into the philosophy of life....so that is good. It will make you laugh, cry, and learn........ My vote is 7 out of 10.

The World According to Garp is an unconventional film, to say the least. Not so much in the sense of how it looks, or how it is acted. More than anything the film stands out because it is a human drama that doesn't take a stance or one particular point of view. T. S. Garp is simply a man trying to live his life amongst all manner of eccentric characters and unlikely situations. And like life, things happen. People grow old. There are moments of joy. There are moments of tragedy. And people die.

Robin Williams plays the title character known by most as simply "Garp". His mother, played with dignified enthusiasm by Glenn Close, has brought him up all by herself. She is a nurse and during WWII, she used the sperm of a dying tail gunner who she happened to be caring for in his final moments. To call this woman a feminist would be a magnificent understatement. Her sexuality is never made that clear to the viewer but is is inferred by some around her that she is in fact a lesbian. Her only relationship with a man that we learn of is the encounter that produced her son, and she spends much of the film condemning the lusty ways of men and boys. As the film goes on, she becomes a famous writer and feminist leader. Garp spends much of his life trying to be a successful writer himself and raising a family, but he never seems to escape his mother's shadow.

The plot simply follows the life of Garp and his family members. A great many things happen to these people over the span of many years. Careers are made, children are born, affairs are had, and the joys of life are often shattered by terrible tragedies. Williams is decent enough as Garp. He maybe acts a bit too zany in the light-hearted scenes, but he nails the more dramatic ones pretty well. That's the amazing thing about Robin Williams. The guy is an absolute nut most of the time he's in front of a camera, but when he bears down and plays something serious, it's stunning to see how great his range can be. He is an undervalued actor. Glenn Close steals this film though in terms of acting. She owns every scene she's in much like how her domineering character towers over that of her son's. The supporting cast is more than adequate with John Lithgow getting major props for his daring turn as a transsexual with a heart of gold. The film seems to take its share of jabs at radical feminism as it depicts a sect of women knows as the Ellen Jamsians. These women cut out their own tongues to protest the similar fate of a rape victim. And boy do these ladies HATE men. An act of violence in one of the final scenes shows how fanatical they can be. (as if cutting out their tongues wasn't bad enough!) Each person who views this film will probably see something different in it, and those are my favorite kinds of films. There are moments of definite humor, surprise, hope, and tragedy. You will not be bored. The film is based on a popular novel by John Irving and is worth 9 of 10 stars.

The Hound.

"The World According To Garp" introduced me to several things dear to me when I saw it as a child: the Beatles (through the opening credits song), Robin Williams (okay, he's not dear to me, but I like his dramatic stuff) and an early understanding of what "bittersweet" meant. To be honest, I have never read John Irving's book. Although I probably will one day, I enjoy the movie too much and right now I don't want my perception of it altered. Beautifully acted, written, and photographed, "Garp" just moves me everytime I watch it. To this day, I haven't seen Robin Williams or Glenn Close play better roles than they do here, and John Lithgow is just a hoot as Roberta. Back to the bittersweet thing, I love the way this film will have you moved to tears one minute and laughing the next, just like real life. Obviously, there are a plethora of movies out there that achieve the same effect, this one just happens to be a personal favorite. Dramatic but never heavyhanded, funny but never silly, "The World According To Garp" is a simply perfect movie experience.

(1982) The World According To Garp DRAMA/ COMEDY

Based on John Irving's popular novel of the same name which is a chronically biography fictional account of a person named Garp, given from his mother which has a reason. From the time when he was just a baby, finding out later that he's a b a s t a r d son with no father figure, to showcasing his eccentric mother's weird outlook on things and life in general who unknowingly became a feminist, and started originally worked as certified nurse for the campus to help her son get the education that he needed. It's basically a movie about Garp played by Robin Williams escalating from being a nobody to becoming a writer to staying married to his longtime sweetheart. Intriguing, strange and somewhat engrossing, skipping pointless dramatic parts which always works, masterfully directed by George Roy Hill of "The Sting" and "Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid". Some the dialogue might've provide some meaning which is only convenient when shown on this film but that's probably how far it'd go. Nominated for two Oscars including one of Glenn Close for Best Actress in a supporting role and for john Lithgow for an actor for a supporting role.

T.S. Garp (Oscar-Winner:Robin Williams), who lives an unusual life with his bright, caring, truthful but peculiar mother Jenny (Glenn Close). Who's also an nurse. But Garp has an wild imagination as a child and now as a young adult, he wants to be a "serious" writer. Once he moves to New York City with his mother. His mother decides to write non-fiction novel about life, sex and lust. That becomes an national best-seller and she becomes an heroine for the "feminist" movement. While Garp is struggling with his writing career, while he's married to a smart woman Helen (Mary Beth Hurt) and having children of their own. Garp's life starts to fall apart when he starts to fool around once with the babysitter, his wife fools around as well and other disturbing moments has yet to come in his incredible life.

Directed by the late Oscar-Winner:George Roy Hill (Funny Farm, Slap Shot, The Sting) made an one of those rare films that was truly ahead of its time. The film has an major cult following as well. The performances are first-rate in this one of a kind film that plays with different genres extremely well. Close and John Lithgow as Roberta received Oscar Nominations for their brilliant supporting performances. I would have liked also if Roy Hill received an Oscar Nominated for Best Director, same goes for Williams for his sharp lead performance for Best Actor and Steve Tesich's (American Flyers, Breaking Away) excellent screenplay. Which he should gotten an Oscar Nomination for Best Adapated Screenplay. Since this picture is based on a novel by Oscar-Winner:John Irving (The Cider House Rider, The Hotel New Hampshire, Simon Birch). This movie is somewhat underrated today, this is probably one of the most remembered classics of the 1980's. Plenty of familiar faces appears in bit-parts or in cameos as well. This is a extraordinary film about an unusual man going through life, don't miss it. (**** ½/*****).

In 1944, Jenny Fields (Glenn Close) surprises her wealthy parents with a baby. She had sex with a soldier on his death bed. All she wanted from him was a baby. She takes a job as a nurse in an all-boys boarding school. Garp (Robin Williams) takes up wrestling and falls for Helen Holm. He wants to be a writer and they move to NYC. Her semi-autobiographical book Sexual Suspect is an overnight success and she uses the money to open the family home for abused women and transsexuals like Roberta Muldoon (John Lithgow). Garp and Helen get married and have kids but they struggle.

Robin Williams shows his dramatic acting chops. Glenn Close brings life to her crazy character. John Lithgow cross-dresses with an air of normalcy. It's a lot wacky random incidences. It's not surreal enough to be surreal. Three assassination attempts may be two too many. The movie feels fake but memorable nevertheless.

While "The World According to Garp" is a nice movie, it is not quite as memorable as I would have expected. I haven't read the Irving novel, so I don't know how true to the book the film version is.

The story follows Garp from his birth up to adulthood and parenthood, and it follows all those in his life and family. There are too many events to go through, so it is better to say that you should watch the entire movie, because a synopsis hardly do the entire story justice.

Despite being from 1982, then the movie still holds its own today and can be watched every now and then with some years passing.

What makes "The World According to Garp" good is the cast ensemble and the very impressive performances they all deliver. In the lead role as Garp is Robin Williams, who handled a serious role quite well. Playing his mother Jenny was Glenn Close, and she really brought something solid to the movie. But most impressive was John Lithgow in the role of a post-op transsexual NFL player. Lithgow was amazing in this movie. Mary Beth Hurt playing Garp's wife Helen also did a good job with her character.

The movie runs a bit over two hours, which was starting to get a bit strained at times. But there is always something new happening, so it doesn't get repetitive.

Never read the book but watched this movie in the '80-s in a cinema. This was one of the movies in those days everyone went to see. Great characters and a wonderful storyline. This is one of the pictures only Americans can make (like Big Fish): a sort of modern fairytale with lots of unusual people but goodhearted and rich in sub plots. Watched it again on TV ages ago and never saw it again. Which is a true shame. Dear folks at Warner Bros: please re-release this gem on BD and DVD! Give it the credits it deserves. Take your time for some restoration, put some extra's on it (interviews with director and cast, a look back, etcetera) but give this movie back to the fans. We're waiting for it too long. Thanks!

-> George Roy Hill's adaptation of John Irving's novel largely conforms to its source's spirit, warts and all. On the one hand, second-wave feminism is adamantly lensed through Garp's eyes. After Jenny publishes her groundbreaking book"Sexual Suspect", which instantly becomes a manifesto and exalts her to be the point (wo)man of the voguing movement, a popular public figure with massive devotees, among which is Lithgow's Roberta, a toweringly empowered trans-woman, funny, endearing and devoid of any sequela from a victim of transphobia, an exigent, idealized screen presentation of the stigmatized, marginalized minority. Also, since Garp has the same ambition in writing, in the early scenes, the contest between a mother and her son striving for the same cause strikes a witty chord, jealousy is only a normal outgrowth for Garp, but eventually he is philosophically countenanced to be known as"Jenny's son" with no hard feelings, for what it is worth, the unflinching and affectionate mother-son bond is the film's kernel, the uplifting proclamation is "Garp doesn't need a father".

Read my full review on my blog: Cinema Omnivore, please google it, thanks.

The World According to Garp is a great movie with a very well developed plot and a tremendously talented cast. Based on a bestselling novel, the film manages to balance many complex story and character arcs that ensue throughout that are all interconnected, but also vastly different, and I can gladly say that I was equally invested in all of them.

I will admit that the film gets carried away with itself, going on for far longer than it should and becoming a little overbearing on occasion. There is a lot of messages and metaphors going on that it does start to become a tad overindulgent, trying too hard to make the audience feel something rather than letting it happen naturally.

The cast is all around spectacular, Robin Williams shines in his first dramatic role and he proved from the get go, and I would imagine surprised many at the time, that there is more to him than just his funny, improvisational side, there is a soulful truth in his performance throughout. Glenn Close is also terrific as the strong willed, protective mother who wants the best for her son, she goes through a complicated arc that she handles with grace. Lastly, John Lithgow is absolutely phenomenal in this role as a trans, taking it on with full force and a caring nature that I am sure this community can look at fondly, he clearly tackled the role with great softness.

Flawed, but very memorable. Funny and heartwarming, The World According to Garp is heavy, ranging from various emotions throughout, if you are looking for a good drama, it is certainly worth the watch.

A young man finds his life being controlled by his wife and mother, he soon finds himself searching for freedom.

Best Performance: Robin Williams