Simon Birch (1998)

I had to read A Prayer for Owen Meany for AP English, and we watched this movie in class. We have a seminar coming soon that asks "Why do you think John Irving didn't want the name of his book to be attached to this movie?" If you both read the book and watched the movie, it's pretty easy to see why...Basically, the movie trivializes the most important parts of the book, or just doesn't include them at all (where are the three cousins???) The scene where Joe's mom is killed by Simon's baseball is almost laughable because of how cheesy it is, what with its slow motion and everyone's shocked expressions. The scene with the bus crash is even worse because of how...unrealistic it is. There's an entire scene about how Simon can hold his breath for an unnaturally long time, yet he couldn't make it out of the bus when it went under? Really? Owen's death scene in the book (which is completely different from the one in the movie, aside from the fact that he was saving a group of children in both of them) was emotional and literally tied the ENTIRE story together. This, though...it asks more questions than it answers.Adding on to the cheesiness, the kid that plays Joe is a really, REALLY bad actor, and I just can't take him seriously, especially when he acts sad about finding out who his father is or when Simon gets out of the bus. However, the kid that played Simon did a very good job and made for a pretty memorable character. Really, the only other roles in the movie with good actors were the Sunday school teacher and Joe's mother.The only reason this gets more than a 1 is because the movie does have some pretty funny parts, mostly the Christmas pageant scene. Overall though, this really isn't a good movie. It might be okay if you watch it alone, but it simply has nothing on the book. If you liked the movie, I guarantee you that the book is 100 times better.

Released in 1998, "Simon Birch" was directed and written by Mark Steven Johnson ("Daredevil," "Ghost Rider") loosely based on John Irving's novel "A Prayer for Owen Meany."The story takes place in 1964 coastal Maine and involves two misfit friends, both 12 years old, both outcasts: Simon a dwarf and Joe a bastard child.Despite his challenging condition, Simon believes there's a reason he's a dwarf and that God has a purpose for him and more. Does he have any proof for this belief? No. It's just something he knows.Joe, on the other hand, desperately wants to know who his father is. His mother (Ashley Judd) got pregnant during her senior year in high school but she never revealed the identity of the father. Much of the story involves Simon and Joe trying to figure out who Joe's father is.The reality of Simon's condition is driven home when Joe tells him a local girl finds him cute. Simon responds, "She means cute like a baby turtle is cute. Girls don't kiss baby turtles." "How do you know," Joe asks. "I just know. If you were me you'd know too.""Simon Birch" is reminiscent of 1994's "Forrest Gump." Both are named after their protagonist, both take place in the 60s, both involve outcasts who are challenged mentally or physically, both have the same style, both are heavy and light at the same time -- serious drama balanced out by humor and tragedy. Director/writer Johnson was obviously shooting for the next "Forrest Gump."Although "Birch" isn't as good as "Gump" it's pretty good. Unlike "Gump" it failed at the box office, making only $18 million in the USA while costing $20 million, but word-of-mouth has spread.For the first 10 minutes or so I wasn't sure if I was going to buy into the film's inevitable contrivances and melodramatics, but the next thing I knew I was sucked into the story and having a good time. When it was all over I had a lot of things to reflect on. In fact, I watched it again. Yes, there are some "Yeah, right" moments but watch a few old b&w flicks where contrivances and melodramatics are a way of life. A film can get away with being a tad unlikely or sentimental if it plays its cards right.One scene involves a baseball hitting someone in the head. This brought to memory something that happened when I was around 8 years old: My family and I were walking the trails of Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis when we came to the edge of a baseball field. As soon as we entered the outfield somehow I just knew that the current batter was going to hit the ball and it was going to hit me right in the face. I knew it but I didn't know how I knew. I just knew. Next thing you know the batter hits the ball into the air -- it was like slow motion -- and it came and hit me right on the cheek! (The only good thing was I think it was a softball). How did I KNOW this was going to happen? I don't know, but it's pretty amazing. I bring this up not only because there's a similar scene in "Simon Birch" but also because I believe it relates to Simon knowing and believing he had a purpose and was going to die a hero.The idea of Simon dying is no spoiler, by the way. It's revealed right from the start that Simon and someone else would die before the film ends. This, of course, softens the shock when they do and allows the tale to play as bittersweet nostalgia. Some people call the story sad and tragic, but it's not. We know right from the get-go who's going to die. We just don't know when and how. Besides, everyone dies sooner or later (but not every one grows up).This is the first and only film I've ever seen Ashley Judd in and she's ANGELIC. Seriously, Ashley is the definition of spirituality, not to mention stunningly beautiful.Another likable character is Ben Goodrich, played by Oliver Platt. He assumes the father-figure role to both Simon and Joe, but he's very natural about it, not pushy.Some of the themes addressed are:-- Order, purpose and love in a bloody realm of chaos. -- It's possible to be religious but not spiritual. -- If you KNOW something in your heart, never give up or stop believing. -- Who is your real father, the man from whose loins you came or the one who loves & mentors you? -- The conflict of flesh and spirit, random chance and order, meaningless existence or purposeful life. -- Sex/romance can cause you to make really stoo-pid mistakes. -- Going through religious motions but no longer really believing. -- Religion and truth are not one in the same. A person can get bogged down in the mire of human religion and miss the point. Truth sets FREE.The characters are likable. There's some crudeness and cussing, but it reflects real life rather than crudeness for the sake of crudeness. Even the 'villains' are not totally unlikable or without sympathy. Rev. Russell comes across more as a man who's simply lost his way while going through the motions rather than a man out to abuse people. Same thing with the Sunday school teacher.Watch out for the laugh-out-loud scene involving the manger, the baby Jesus and the girl who plays the virgin Mary.Jim Carrey has a small role as Joe when he's an adult, bookending the film and narrating. The locations are gorgeous, filmed in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, and on the French River in Ontario.GRADE: B

This is the corniest movie I have seen in a long while. The main character is unbelievable and the scene where Ashley Judd's character is 'knocked out' is totally contrived and unbelievable. How could such a small person hit a ball so hard as to kill someone? People with diabetes should avoid this film due to its sugary composition. The main character is not only unbelievable but not very likable. His complaints about church socials having a continental breakfast make him sound like a Christian tali-ban. I would not let my children see this film because of Simon Birch's pretentious and self-righteous view of the world and religion.

This film should be watched by anyone and everyone. Its the story of Simon Birch, a young boy with a growth disorder who makes friends with Joe. Even though Birch kills his best friends Mum by firing a baseball at her head (accidentally) they still remain best of friends throughout the film, proving that friendship can surpass anything. But on a bus on a cold winters day the bus swerves and crashes into a river where Birch helps everyone get off the bus alive. He too gets off the bus alive yet dies in hospital some time later. This is a superb family with strong acting and, being a 16 year old guy im not scared to admit that it made me cry because it was so thought provoking and well acted that i believed what was happening. Superb stuff!