Mary & Tim

MARY AND TIM is a remake that out-does the original. The characters have pure motives and there is never a hint of impropriety. Candice and Tom are convincing and attractive in the roles of Mary and Tim. I keep hoping to find this movie available on home video.

"Mary and Tim" is in a lot of ways, better than the 1979 movie "Tim". One thing to note, anyone who thinks Justine is hostile in this movie (or Dawnie in the 1979 version), would be surprised by the book.

Tims' family is a aware of Marys' age in this version well than before in the book or other movie. It is a cuase of tension, but not the hostility in the two prior cases.

One difference is that this version is shot in California, as opposed to Australia. Another important version is that Mary Horton is a widow, as opposed to the two prior versions, where she was never married. As well, Mary talks about her departed mother, while in the novel, she never knew her parents.

Also, in this version, Tim is more emotionally empowered. It is him who asks Mary to marry him. Not some outsider. He also is shown to have a lot of insight into what Mary wants, well before Mary is willing to admit it to herself.

After Tim proposes marriage, before Mary responds, his father asks if he and Mary have had sex. Tim is shown as knowing about sex, although I will not say if they do have sex before marriage.

It is a very good version. I always enjoy seeing it.

This movie will always be very special to me and I'll tell you why but first a short synopsis.

Mary has lost her husband and although her friends try to set her up with other eligible men she's content to remain single. She is in her early 50's, is reasonably well off and has a job running a bookstore that she enjoys. Into this comfortable existence stumbles Tim, an attractive young man in his mid 20's. Tim is learning disabled and works as a handyman and gardener. They meet when Tim, the butt of a practical joke, destroys some of Mary's flowerbeds and offers to repair them. Mary is pleased with Tim's work and in all innocence offers him a more permanent job as gardener. She soon learns that he cannot read and drawn by his open and friendly nature she offers to teach him.

Without planning it the two become friends and as they work together that friendship begins to blossom into something more. Here the drama begins.

Mary finds herself attracted to someone she knows that society says she shouldn't be attracted to. She knows that if she gives in to that attraction, there are those that will always condemn her affection as somehow perverted or wrong.

Also Mary is a bit overwhelmed that Tim feels the same attraction to her. Tim may be slow but he's not stupid. He's a grown man and he has a grown mans feelings. He knows what he wants and says so, first when he kisses her and then when he proposes marriage. Will she ignore society's small-mindedness and enjoy her amazing good fortune or will she yield to societies pressure and forgo the joy that could be hers?

Now as to why this movie is so special to me, its because this film deals very effectively with a conflict that I've felt personally and have never seen expressed quite so well; the feelings that a gay man feels when he considers coming out. Would I somehow find the courage to admit how I felt and take a chance at happiness or would I conform to what I knew society wanted and sacrifice any such chance.

I know that there are those that will disapprove of my choice but then Mary knew the same thing and had the courage to follow her true feelings and her true friends understood and accepted in the end. Can it really be wrong for two folks who care for each other to make each other happy when it does no harm to others?

I admire the simple way love is played in this movie, Candy Bergen is a striking actress with wit, experience and talent, while Tom McCarthy(Saint Maybe)gives a fair turn as the "slow" young man who falls for her and gets her to fall in love with him.

Initially I dreaded the match because of Tim's doggedness but there is a vulnerability in him, a craving which needs fulfilment and this finds a likeness in Mary. Tim slowly wears down her resistance and it's touching to see him want to take care of her and look after her even if he knows quite clearly that she is older than him.

His father also recognises that there is a bond which is stronger than most people can comprehend which is why he wants Mary to be Tim's legal guardian.

Touching movie, which I have seen again and again and still would see!!! 7 out of 10.......

This is a fantastic movie. Reading the description, I was afraid it would make me uncomfortable, but it really didn't. It's a very lovely story, the setting is very pretty and I think the actors did a great job.