Review of The Cider House Rules (1999) by Sherry L — 12 Mar 2011

Disappointing adaptation of a good book.

It's very annoying when you watch a movie like this that you felt could have been so much better, just with a few adjustments.

I just whished they had skipped the Homer-character who doesn't contribute with anything (neither in the book, nor in the movie), and had put some more focus on the other characters, and perhaps put some more american history in it (which would make the movie at least one hour longer, I know).

Lasse Hallstrom is a good, but uneven, director. This is far from his best achievement, but still it's not terrible.

The story is about a (awkward and dull) young man, named Homer who has lived all his life in an orphanage. Since all the adoption-attempts failed, you can say it was sort of his destiny to stay at St. Cloud's and be trained by dr. Wilbur Larch to be a doctor.

But Homer feels like exploring the world and getting outside the orphanage, so he follows the young couple Candy and Wally, to work at a cider house.

The best thing about the movie is no doubt the casting. Michael Caine made a very nice performance as doctor Larch, and Tobey Maguire's mickey mouse acting suited the dull Homer character very well.

But all in all the movie was pretty bland in my opinion.