The Cider House Rules Review
by Dylan Groves (rgroves AT ionline DOT net)December 11th, 1999
Prior to receiving free passes to tonight's screening of The Cider House Rules, my encounters with the work of John Irving had been limited to the film adaptation of another novel, The World According to Garp, when I was just out of diapers. The most I can recall of that movie is a wonderfully amusing titles sequence, which featured floating babies and the soothing voice of Paul McCartney.
I felt an immediate, unspoken bond with that child. It was more than fifteen years ago, so the memories are understandably vague, but I can remember exclaiming, to anyone who would listen, that I *was* that child. This wasn't role playing or any other such game often played by pre-schoolers, I truly *believed* that I was watching myself on the television. I felt something uncannily similar watching Tobey Maguire's character in The Cider House Rules.
The film opens in a somewhat well-worn orphanage, as Dr. Wilbur Larch(Michael Caine) narrates the course of events that brought young Homer (Maguire) into his care. Luck doesn't seem to be on Homer's side, as the orphanage and several would-be parents play hand-off with the young child before he can even walk under his own steam. Before we know it, this boy has grown to full manhood, and been well-schooled by Wilbur in both delivering babies and the inverse. He has become an active part in life at the orphanage, but is developing a severe case of itchy feet. Wilbur scolds him, claiming that his strengths are put to best use right where he is, but you know how young people are.
The Cider House Rules pulls at your heart strings as effortlessly as the leaves are pulled to earth in autumn. Yet it is not shameless or exploitative in its manipulation, which is a considerable feat given that much of the film deals with that traditionally sappy topic of "unwanted children". For a film with so many weepy moments, I didn't once resent my tears. The performances are uniformly terrific, particularly by Caine, who manages to completely lose his signature accent and be totally convincing at all times. Remember him when making your Oscar bets. And please don't let this gem get lost in the shuffle during the holiday season.
***1/2 out of ****
Dylan Groves
rgroves@ionline.net
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