The Cider House Rules

Movie Title: The Cider House Rules
Rating: 10
Reviewed By: Mike Stevens

Review: The Cider House Rules, directed by Lasse Hallstrom, is based on the novel by John Irving. The Film is set in St. Cloud, Maine, at the state owned orphanage that Dr. Wilbur Larch (Michael Caine) basically runs. This orphanage and hospital is where Dr. Larch has spent his entire professional career. It is also where Homer Wells (Tobey Maguire) was born and raised. This film focuses on Homer and first his interactions with the fine doctor, and then with the outside world. Homer, like almost all of the other children at the orphanage, grows up without his parents. Some of the children are adopted, but most remain until they are adults. Homer and Dr. Larch become close as the doctor discovers that Homer is a bright kid, and so the doctor sets out to teach Homer all he knows about medicine. So in essence their relationship is like that between father and son. Then one fine day a good-looking soldier by the name of Wally and his attractive female friend Candy arrive at the orphanage. You see Wally (Paul Rudd) got Candy (Charlize Theron) pregnant, and so they needed to find someone to do an abortion, which was illegal at that time. And Dr. Larch practiced abortions, despite the illegality of the matter. Anyway the operation is successful, the couple leaves, and Homer decides to tag along and discover the world. As he discovers the world, he learns of the good, the bad, and the ugly that lies within people. Homer learns of the joys of love and sex, the evils of racism, and the ugliness of incest. In the end though, this is the story of the prodigal son, and will he return home to his father to mend the hurt before it is too late. The rest of the cast includes Delroy Lindo, Jane Alexander, Heavy D, Kate Nelligan, Kieran Culkin, and Kathy Baker as Nurse Angela. I really liked this film. I liked almost everything about it (it would have been nice to see Ms. Theron in the nude). The Cider House Rules is a great movie. This film touches you, it discusses real issues (abortion, racism, and incest), and has some great acting, especially by Tobey Maguire and Michael Caine. Therefore I give this film ten couches. Adios.