First of all, this movie is most likely not a believable portrayal of mental illness. Hopefully, it's not meant to be. Don't take it too seriously, and you'll probably be amused. Look into it too hard, and you'll be offended by the easy dismissal of Joon's problems (schizophrenia?) For a more somber portrayal of the same topic, watch the australian biopic of pianist David Helfgott, "Shine," or to a lesser degree, see Simon Rumley's "The Living and the Dead." Anyway. Back to the point.
Get rid of Johnny Depp, and you've got a well-acted, bland, fairly impausible tale of siblings and mental illness. Add Johnny Depp, and you've got a quirky, highly entertaining... comedy? Drama? Romance? Like Amy Adams in "Junebug," he makes the movie. Don't get me wrong, Depp's character, Sam, doesn't have near the depth that Adams' did, but he's very funny, awfully strange, and likable.
The plot- Benny (Quinn,) a mechanic, has spent his whole life caring for his mentally ill younger sister Joon (Masterson.) He's encouraged by a co-worker to 'go out and enjoy life,' but wants to leave Joon alone as little as possible. A psychiatrist pressures Benny to put her in a group home, but Benny is set on keeping his sister with him. Joon doesn't want to go to a home either, as she's fond of her brother and doesn't enjoy the company of her 'peers.' However, she's a trial to care for, because she has fits, hears voices, and every now and again sets something on fire.
One day Benny's playing some poker with his friends, betting small objects, when Joon joins in. While Benny leaves for a bit, Joon loses a bet and the two of them are forced to take in the winner's cousin. Obviously, Benny's not pleased, and Joon plays the 'poor exploited girl' in order to take back her loss. However, Benny finally agrees and Sam (Depp) joins the household.
With Joon, Benny probably thought he had enough weirdness for a lifetime, but with the arrival of Sam he gets even more than he bargained for. Sam is mentally stable, though- sort of. Besides, wearing a top hat and carrying a cane wherever he goes, he prepares grilled cheese with an iron, knows a grade-B horror movie's quotes by heart, and does tricks with his hat, forks, bread, etc., etc.
Of course Joon likes him. Almost everyone seems to like him (except his cousin,) though they treat him with quizzical disbelief. Sam tries to get a job at a video store, but leaves when he's unable to fill out a sheet. It seems that he has a learning disability, since his childlike attempts at writing seem odd with his obvious intelligence.
Time passes, and Joon and Sam fall in love. After consummating their relationship, they feel the need to tell Benny. Bad idea. Benny, who feels his sister's been taken advantage of, throws Sam out of the house (literally, not figuratively) and screams in Joon's face telling her she's crazy, as well as revealing the doctor's professional opinion to put her away. Under the obvious stress, Joon has a mental breakdown and is sent to a mental hospital. Together, Sam and Benny come up with a highly outrageous plan to break her free.
Joon's issues veer between serious (Schizophrenic breakdowns) and wacky (making a peanut butter and cereal smoothie or walking through the streets with a scuba mask.) Could Joon actually live on her own without freaking out and becoming delusional? Probably not. Obviously, buckets of belief must be suspended to enjoy the movie. However, the acting is very good and Sam's seriously weird impressions are nothing short of hilarious. (Rated PG)
Get rid of Johnny Depp, and you've got a well-acted, bland, fairly impausible tale of siblings and mental illness. Add Johnny Depp, and you've got a quirky, highly entertaining... comedy? Drama? Romance? Like Amy Adams in "Junebug," he makes the movie. Don't get me wrong, Depp's character, Sam, doesn't have near the depth that Adams' did, but he's very funny, awfully strange, and likable.
The plot- Benny (Quinn,) a mechanic, has spent his whole life caring for his mentally ill younger sister Joon (Masterson.) He's encouraged by a co-worker to 'go out and enjoy life,' but wants to leave Joon alone as little as possible. A psychiatrist pressures Benny to put her in a group home, but Benny is set on keeping his sister with him. Joon doesn't want to go to a home either, as she's fond of her brother and doesn't enjoy the company of her 'peers.' However, she's a trial to care for, because she has fits, hears voices, and every now and again sets something on fire.
One day Benny's playing some poker with his friends, betting small objects, when Joon joins in. While Benny leaves for a bit, Joon loses a bet and the two of them are forced to take in the winner's cousin. Obviously, Benny's not pleased, and Joon plays the 'poor exploited girl' in order to take back her loss. However, Benny finally agrees and Sam (Depp) joins the household.
With Joon, Benny probably thought he had enough weirdness for a lifetime, but with the arrival of Sam he gets even more than he bargained for. Sam is mentally stable, though- sort of. Besides, wearing a top hat and carrying a cane wherever he goes, he prepares grilled cheese with an iron, knows a grade-B horror movie's quotes by heart, and does tricks with his hat, forks, bread, etc., etc.
Of course Joon likes him. Almost everyone seems to like him (except his cousin,) though they treat him with quizzical disbelief. Sam tries to get a job at a video store, but leaves when he's unable to fill out a sheet. It seems that he has a learning disability, since his childlike attempts at writing seem odd with his obvious intelligence.
Time passes, and Joon and Sam fall in love. After consummating their relationship, they feel the need to tell Benny. Bad idea. Benny, who feels his sister's been taken advantage of, throws Sam out of the house (literally, not figuratively) and screams in Joon's face telling her she's crazy, as well as revealing the doctor's professional opinion to put her away. Under the obvious stress, Joon has a mental breakdown and is sent to a mental hospital. Together, Sam and Benny come up with a highly outrageous plan to break her free.
Joon's issues veer between serious (Schizophrenic breakdowns) and wacky (making a peanut butter and cereal smoothie or walking through the streets with a scuba mask.) Could Joon actually live on her own without freaking out and becoming delusional? Probably not. Obviously, buckets of belief must be suspended to enjoy the movie. However, the acting is very good and Sam's seriously weird impressions are nothing short of hilarious. (Rated PG)
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