Review – What’s Eating Gilbert Grape

I’m honestly not quite sure where this movie goes wrong. Actually, it really isn’t even fair to imply that it goes wrong at some point. The script is solid. The actors do a great job, particularly the supporting cast of relative unknowns. Even Leonardo DiCaprio turns in an impressive effort in his big screen breakthrough role, admirable despite the whole actor-earning-points-by-playing-a-mentally-disabled-person thing. I expect the theme – small town boy who may have to forego romance and other personal interests because he’s stuck taking care of his wacky family, particularly mentally damaged brother and drastically overweight mother – will naturally appeal to a fairly large audience. I even liked the production’s quirky sense of humor. I admit I thought it got a little too sentimental in parts, and occasionally quirky fell flat and turned into silliness. But otherwise this wasn’t a bad way to spend a couple of hours. Mildly amusing