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"'Rules'
of Engagement"
by Scott Mantz
"The Cider House Rules"
Tobey Maguire, Charlize Theron
Directed by Lasse Hallstrom
When it comes
to fate and destiny, we all have to follow our own path. Nobody
can choose it for us. We may feel the need to live up to certain
expectations, whether it's going to college or getting married,
but the road that leads to self-discovery is one that we all take
when we're good and ready. For many people, that road can lead to
wondrous and worldly destinations, but for others, it's simply not
that glamorous. For young Homer Wells, that road never extended
beyond the reach of his own driveway--that is, until now. While
"The Cider House Rules" is a heartfelt journey that's filled with
rich performances, its true impact is weighed down by its inability
to take a firm stand on the surprisingly weighty issues that it
takes on.
Since Homer
Wells (Tobey Maguire) was never adopted, Dr. Wilbur Larch (Michael
Caine), the ether-addicted administrator of a New England orphanage,
took him under his wing. He's content for now, but it's only a matter
of time before something sparks his interest to leave and explore
the real world. That "something" takes the form of Wally (Paul Rudd)
and Candy (Charlize Theron), who come to Dr. Larch in need of an
abortion. Upon their departure, Homer decides to tag along for the
ride. With no particular destination in mind, Wally gives Homer
a job at his mother's cider house, and it is there that he discovers
the true meaning of love, life, and death.
Undoubtedly,
the movie's biggest strength lies in its performances. Tobey Maguire,
one of the finest young thespians working today, puts in a strong
and sympathetic performance as Homer. He's fresh and innocent to
the point of being naive, but that works in his favor. He doesn't
fall victim to the circumstances that befall him, and he draws from
his inner strength to literally save the day. Charlize Theron puts
in her finest work to date as the lonely girlfriend who has a problem
being alone. She misses her boyfriend and finds comfort in Maguire's
ideology. As always, Michael Caine puts in a solid performance as
the father-figure who needs to learn that sometimes loving someone
means setting them free.
For such an
unassuming environment, "The Cider House Rules' takes on some pretty
weighty issues. On one hand, Dr. Larch is all for abortion, as long
as it keeps desperate women from taking drastic actions and endangering
their lives. On the other hand, it's unclear where Homer falls into
the pro-choice category, even though he is eventually forced to
take a stand on it. Whatever the case, it feels more like an underscore
to stir some emotion rather than a true argument about the subject.
Sadly, this
is where the film loses me. Sure, Homer needs to go off and explore
things for himself, but for such a short time away, he sure sees
alot. So much, in fact, that it doesn't quite ring true. The film
moves along at a steady enough pace until, all of a sudden, Homer
is faced with the one-two-three punch of abortion, incest, and death.
As important as these issues are, they lack the genuine feel of
bona fide crisis. But then, Homer does get a chance to explore his
sexual side with the beautiful Charlize Theron, so things can't
be all that bad!
Sometimes its
hard to see the forest through the trees and appreciate what you
have. That's what this story is about. By going off into the real
world, Homer realizes what's important. Home is where the heart
is, and you don't need to be adopted to have a family. If your family
consists of the people who've taken care of you since birth, then,
for Homer, there's no place like home.
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