Movie Review

Thumbsucker

During a discussion of J.D Salinger's "A Catcher in the Rye,? someone told me that young teens are into such stories of teenage angst but that as they mature into adulthood, teenage angst becomes the least of their concerns. "Thumbsucker" works in that way. There isn't much wrong with it if what you?re looking for is one of those sedated and humorless looks at life through the eyes of a 17-year-old, but the entire experience just feels ordinary. And considering all the more important issues in the world and even on film during the past couple of weeks, this just feels boring by comparison.

Justin Cobb (Lou Pucci) is a teen with a constant feeling of inadequacy. His lack of confidence is what contributes to his wanting to suck his thumb. He is diagnosed with a hyperactivity disorder and put on medication. The meds work, making him smarter, clearer, and a champion on the debate team. Only this type of medication is not a control at all, but a form of speed where the brain is going too fast to realize anything. "Thumbsucker's" best attribute is its ability to analyze these types of drugs and the people taking them. These kids don't want mental stability; they want change and there are so many meds they can take to achieve it. Some are legal and there are some, of course, that are illegal.

The rest of the movie is what you would expect. The main character wanders around, trying to find ways for his life to make sense but instead just finds more black holes. His family is a big part of his woe. Mom (Tilda Swinton) is not happy and wishes she were married to the TV star (Benjamin Bratt) on her favorite show. Dad (Vincent D'Onofrio) is a former football player who never got to go pro because he injured his knee and is now a very distant person because of it. Neither one of these elements ever leads to anything big or affective. They just seem like plot devices to put the main character in the depressed state he needs to be in. For a teen to hate much of the things in his or her life is common, though. At no point do we think Justin is tail spinning down into anything seriously life threatening or even that mentally taxing. It just feels like a passing phase.

Lou Pucci knows what he needs to do to play the part, acting both withdrawn and expressionless. It's a dull and sullen performance, but I'm pretty sure that's the point. Keanu Reeves adds some needed laughs as a sort of Buddha dentist offering advice on why people thumb-suck, but "Thumbsucker" is as basic as movies come.

Craig's Grade: C-

A	10.9%
B	41.8%
C	31.8%
D	15.3%
F	0.3%