Review of The Cider House Rules (1999) by Patrick E — 21 Sep 2010

Based on the John Irving novel of the same name "The Cider House Rules" tells the story of Homer Wells, a boy who has grown up in an orphanage in 1940's Maine and trained to be a doctor under the tutelage of orphanages manager, Dr. Lickey. Having never even seen the ocean, Homer decides to leave in order to see a little more of the world and ends up at an orchard where he gets himself a job picking apples. He falls in love with a girlfriend of an army lieutenant and learns some valuable life lessons.

The Cider House Rules really is an excellent drama that's full of interesting characters and has great acting throughout. As with all good dramas, it pulls on the heart strings at times while also being funny at others. The child cast is terrific and lends to an excellent opening to the film. Tobey Maguire is great as Homer Wells, as is Michael Caine as Dr. Lickey. The relationship between the two forms the basis of the story and although they don't seem eye to eye you can tell there is a deep bond between the two. The plot is a little predictable at times but it?s handled so well by director Lasse Hallstrom that it's never to the detriment of the film. It's powerful at times and has an excellent ending that wraps things up nicely. The love story could have been handled better but it's the only real problem to an otherwise very good film.

The Cider House Rules is an excellent acted drama that provides both touching and funny moments. A simple but effective story, it's well worth a watch.