Review of The Deep End of the Ocean (1999) by Khaled H — 06 Feb 2015
Directed by Ulu Grosbard, (Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me? (1971), Straight Time (1978) and True Confessions (1981)), and adapted from Jacquelyn Mitchard's 1996 bestselling novel, adapted here by Stephen Schiff (Lolita (1997) and True Crime (1999)), this is a by the numbers weepie with some good performances, but it's a bit unbelievable.
In 1987, while at a high school reunion, Beth Cappadora (Michelle Pfeiffer) loses her 3 year old son Ben (Michael McElroy), and the resulting search, led by Detective Candy Bliss (Whoopi Goldberg) becomes a media circus with no leads.
It drives Beth to having a nervous breakdown, and it puts a strain on her marriage to Pat (Treat Williams), and she becomes neglectful of her other two children Vincent (Jonathan Jackson) and Kerry (Alexa Vega).
However, 9 years later, a boy called Sam (Ryan Merriman) comes to their door offering to mow the lawn. Beth recognises Sam as Ben, which is confirmed by the police, but Sam has a hard time accepting this.
It should have been a good film, but it does seem a tad cliched and very much like a TV drama of the week, despite it trying to look all big and cinematic. However, the original ending of the film was much bleaker, like the book, but after negative test screenings, the film was delayed and the end was refilmed.
It wouldn't have been any better either way.
This review of The Deep End of the Ocean (1999) was written by Khaled H on 06 Feb 2015.
The Deep End of the Ocean has generally received mixed reviews.
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