Simon Birch Summary
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Mark Steven Johnson
Genres: Comedy Drama
Rating:
This comedy-drama features a narration by Jim_Carrey, looking back to childhood in a manner similar to the narration on TV's The_Wonder_Years. The film is the directorial debut of writer Mark_Steven_Johnson, scripter of Grumpy_Old_Men and its sequel. Johnson adapted only a small portion of John_Irving's 600-page novel A Prayer for Owen Meany (1989), but Irving requested a credit other than "based on" and also asked that the character name of Owen Meany be changed. So Owen became Simon Birch -- which then required a title change. In the title role is 11-year-old Ian_Michael_Smith, who is afflicted with Morquio's syndrome, a genetic disorder which causes dwarfism. The story begins when Joe Wenteworth (Jim_Carrey) visits the grave of his childhood friend Simon Birch, whose stone is marked 1952-64. Joe explains that Simon is "the reason I believe in God." This is followed by a flashback to their friendship during the early '60s. In Gravestown, New Hampshire, young Joe Wenteworth (Joseph_Mazzello) doesn't know who his father is, and his loving mother Rebecca (Ashley_Judd) won't tell him. Joe's best buddy is young Simon Birch, born so tiny that his classmates pass him about like a "doll." Neglected at home, Simon turns to Rebecca as a surrogate mother, and he often has dinner with the Wenteworths. One night, Rebecca brings her friend Ben Goodrich (Oliver_Platt) home for dinner, which annoys her crotchety mother (Dana_Ivey). Later, the lives of the two 12-year-olds receive a cruel twist, and the two then become more curious to learn the secret of Joe's father. Shown in competition at the 1998 Montreal Film Festival. Bhob Stewart, Rovi
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