Molly

Loosely cribbed from Daniel Keyes' novel "Flowers for Algernon" this moist tale follows experimental surgery subject, Molly who overcomes autism only to regress as the procedure's effects fade. We're supposed to realize that, the mentally disabled are people to - and have something to teach us. But this ham fisted tale ends up communicating a less profound message more along the lines of - some of them like to obsessively line up shoes.

There are few great ideas in the world, so to claim that everything is a repeat of something else isn't too far off. Still, this movie takes the idea "Let's make a heartwarming story of a handicapped woman" and mushes it into crap. There are a lot of "Awakenings" factors in this movie, but the difference is Awakenings was worth watching. Awakenings was loosly based on fact. Molly seems to be a cheap rip off of all the better movies meant to make us better understand those around us who don't seem "normal". I find movies like this one, "The Other Sister", "I Am Sam", for more examples, to be an insult to mentally handicaped people. Take a big name star and watch them try to act less than normal. Bobby D and Dustin Hoffman are the only ones who have pulled it off for the newer generation. Everyone else is trying to play catch-up. Shue's performance is lame, weak, and a joke. While this movie does nothing more than try to manipulate the human emotions, magnify the human condition, it doesn't succeed on either front.

"Molly" is a movie of epic inspiration. I was so amazed by the story it presented to the viewers. It not only has star power of Elisabeth Shue and Aaron Eckhart, but it also had a great supporting cast in Thomas Jane and Jill Hennessey.

One of the best things about "Molly" was the intelligent dialogue between everyone. This is a movie that delivers the message that it doesn't matter who the person is or what is wrong with them, they are still a human being and are deserving of respect and love.

I can relate with the title character and was glad to see that somebody made a film of this nature and succeeded in making the point in which it was trying to send viewers.

I was impressed with this flawless film from start to finish. Not only is "Molly" one of the most moving films I've seen but it will literally bring tears to viewers eyes because it is that special. I highly recommend this film. Viewers will not be disappointed by this film since it is that good.

(Credit IMDb) A bachelor becomes the unwilling guardian of his autistic, retarded sister; then an experimental treatment works a dramatic change in her brain and his attitude.

This movie is quite sentimental and sweet, but it's not quite skilled enough to do what it aspires to be. The storyline itself was actually rather endearing. I felt Elisabeth Shue did a decent job playing a mentally challenged autistic girl, and transitioned very effectively to a smarter person. Portraying an autistic person isn't easy. Elisabeth Shue is far from the problem here. She struggles a bit sometimes, but considering it was a huge leap for her dramatically, I feel she deserves props. It gets a bit too ambitious in the second half, not to mention I had a hard time warming up to the main lead (Aaron Eckhart) There was just something about him that felt off to me, despite OK chemistry with Shue. It tries to go for the typical heartbreaking finale which is full of sap and sentiment, but I found it to be way too conventional. I also thought the love story between Elisabeth Shue and Thomas Jane was slightly contrived. It didn't feel real to me, and I thought it was just thrown in there for the sake of it. It tries to be a sad, thought provoking film, but fails. It's certainly keeps your attention, but it's not as powerful as it likes to believe it is.

5.8/10

I really wanted to like this movie but after 20 depressing minutes I started to play with my cat and do housework. The acting is mediocre and some performers are wasted. I feel this is probably due to the choppy editing which confused me. It seemed like whole sections were missing from the movie making me wonder did I miss something. The story was done much better in a wonderful film called "CHARLEY" with Cliff Robertson based on FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON. Apparently the movie premiered on airplanes and that should be a warning that the film is pretty awful. Elizabeth Shue gives a fine performance as the lead character and in some scenes she is quite touching. On the whole the best thing about watching this movie was I got to clean my apartment.