khohen1

Yes, it's dark. No, it's not for "the kids"... it's deserving of it's R rating... It's sick, twisted, and evil... and I LOVED IT!!!! Very fitting of Devito, a throwback to the "All for the funny" Robin Williams, Norton's as good as ever, Keener is the same as she was in Being John Malkovich but with more heart... but that's okay. I went to see this, nervously, with my Mom and Dad... now, I was pretty sure if it was good, Dad would love it, but I was equally as sure that if it was good, Mom would HATE it, being as how she's got about no sense of humor.... but we all laughed our... hiney's off.

Only thing that woulda made it better? Quentin Tarantino being the writer/director.

Four out of Five stars for me.

Some major plot line details are mentioned... don't read any further if you haven't seen this and don't want to spoil the fun.

Okay, I am one of the biggest Jim Carrey fanatics out there. The only reason I bought this movie (on eBay) was to see Jim Carrey in his "first dramatic role". It cost me $26!!! So, obviously, I went in only to see Jim. But then the title character came on, Matt, and I was like, hey, I know him... I like him. And then Laurie Laughlin (Becky from Full House, don't know how to spell her real name) came on, same reaction. And I also recognized the sister and the father. So I was like, hey, maybe it'll even be a good movie anyway.

Well, let me tell you, Jim Carrey was secondary as of twenty minutes into the film. While I wished that Tim would have been a bigger part of the story, I was completely taken into the story of Matt and being gay. I think they tackled the pressures of being gay, and hiding secrets to a "too perfect to be true" family. I think there should have been three storylines...the back stories of the sister and of Tim's were way too big to be back stories... but the movie was already 94 minutes long and I don't think any scenes preexisting should have been taken out... I guess I just think it shoulda been three different movies... I don't know. Every single actor in this movie does a beautiful job. The storys are sympathy envoking and the characters are likable, exept for the mom and for the father until about ten til the end. And speaking of the end... it was too wrapped up for my taste. A little hasty about face for the Father to go through... but anyway, it was a TV movie right?

I definately think this is right up there with Truman Show as far as Jim's acting goes... anyone who says my man can't act can't see. Thanksyou very much!!! ;)

8/10

I happen to be on a Jim Carrey kick at the moment, which means I go out and find ANYTHING with Jim Carrey in it and rent it and watch... and usually laugh my butt off... Well, I saved this one for last cause I got the impression he was only in it for two seconds, and probably at the end cause he was the older version of Joe, who I knew was the second of the two prime characters. Well, I was pleasantly surprised to see him in the FIRST scene, and his sexy voice was sprinkled all over the movie to further please me. I've always liked "odd" movies and movies that "talk to the audience" through voiceovers or talking to the camera {like in High Fidelity} What an odd choice though, for Jim Carrey to be the older, wiser, serious voice to tell a "tragic" tale of poor Simon Birch.

That seemed sarcastic, but it's true. While I could tell that this tale was sad and tragic, and that the movie was trying to get you to be upset and sad and cry, they just, in my opinion, didn't pull it off.

However, I loved the film.

It had a great, interesting story. The acting was great, Kudos to little Ian, Joe, always lovable Oliver Platt, and the beautiful actress Judd, Ashley.

Also, I found this film to be a refreshing change. It didn't pander to the critics, nor did it pander to the audience. There wasn't ludeness, or crudness, though there were a few shit's and damnes, but overall it was a nice, familial-type movie with enough witty lines and funny subplots to keep you entertained.

Not a bread winner, but a nice movie that will stand the test of time. It's the kind of movie that you can watch thirty years from now and still enjoy it (that is, if you enjoyed it in the first place!)

And, I gotta confess, the best line of the movie goes to Ian Michael Smith/Jim Carrey...

Simon (older Joe): I've been thinking.

Joe (older Joe's son): Yeah?

Simon (older Joe): Last year we(you) were in the squirt league, and this year we're(you're) in the pewee.

Joe(older Joe's son): So?

Simon (older Joe): So what do they want us(you) to do, play baseball or urinate? (PAUSE while Joe/Joe's son looks on in perplexed "that's retarded" wonderment) Anyway, I was just thinking.

It was sort of funny when Simon said it, and even funnier when Jim said it... just for sentiment's sake. Nice deja vu type thing there, I like that.

7 out of 10