Truly Dreadful Film

Absolutely brilliant

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

A true winner for light-hearted films; funny, heart-warming, but not lacking an actual story. The family themes, relationship issues, emotionally traumatic (but not too heavy) backstory, and supporting friendships, make for a realistic view of the average person's life.Both Sam and Joon are lovably quirky and clueless, and Benny's family values are admirable. The characters were all cast brilliantly, and not a single one of them was obnoxious.Benny & Joon has a gorgeous ending, and an absolutely captivating story through and through.Personal thoughts: -(27.28, The plate juggling at the diner) This is incredible, imagine how difficult that would be. -(44.45, The raisins discussion) Beautiful. -(1.31.13) Johnny Depp's long hair is lovely.

Hollywood has often been accused of trivialising metal illness, but here it really takes the cake. Sam, as portrayed by Johnny Depp, is a certifiable nutcase who nevertheless has memorised routines by the likes of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin, which he repeats to general acclaim. What he doesn't have though, is any distinguishable character trait other than acting odd and dressing funny... this is not a fully realised individual, but an amalgamation of ideas and quirks some writer put together because they thought it would be cute. Well he is... if you're a brainless teenage girl, who doesn't care about realism and just wants someone to salivate over. The rest of us hopefully will see him as the unimaginative, paper-thin construct he is.As for Joon, she's a mentally unstable girl who is either as sweet as pie or a rampaging loon, depending on what the plot demands of her. She lights fires, smashes up a lot of stuff and talks in incomprehensible riddles. We see she might have been affected by her parent's death at a young age, but would the change be THAT dramatic? Her brother Benny is at his wit's end... she lives with him, and looking after his sister has stopped him from fulfilling any of his ambitions in life. He's about to stick her in a home for the disabled. Then they win Sam in a poker game (don't ask) and everything turns upside down.My major problem here, as you may have guessed, is the inconsistency of the characters. They arrive on screen, establish their personas... and then do or say something so contrary to what we've noticed before, they lose almost all credibility. It's not like they were too complex to begin with, so if the screenwriter can't even keep to within those simple parameters, then he doesn't look too clever. So, while it may be a lot of fun to see Depp emulating scenes from classic silent pictures, the fact remains he and the people around him lack basic credence to the viewer hurts the proceedings. There are genuinely sweet moments, and some hearty laughs to be had. Just not enough to make up for the feeling of disassociation I felt throughout.And if I hear that bloody Proclaimers song one more time... *Grr* 5/10

The part for Johnny Depp was tailor-made. As a Buster Keaton look-alike and showing amazing talents, Depp would go on to a career with strong performances as way-out characters. This film is no exception.A very challenged mentally ill woman finds love with the Depp character. Her protective brother can't see it until he realizes that he also has a life to live-in this case with Julianne Moore.The film proves that mentally challenged people can find happiness under certain circumstances. If possible, they must be given the freedom to pursue this.Moore is excellent in the role as the mentally challenged woman. Her total breakdown on the bus was a scene of rare quality.As the brother, Aidan Quinn is totally sympathetic in the part.There are certainly comical breaks in this challenging film.

Today "Benny and Joon", a 1993 romantic comedy, is mostly remembered for an oddball performance by actor Johnny Depp, who plays a young man with a fondness for impersonating silent Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton routines. Depp can't touch Chaplin or Keaton, but his character is at times heartwarming. Depp fangals adore the film, particularly the way Depp risks life and limb for his woman, sticking by her side no matter what. The ladies love it.The film features an early performance by the always interesting Julianne Moore. Like Depp's character, hers is a meta-roll, Moore a good actress playing a bad actress who gave up bad acting to be a good waiter. Most of the film is filler, but Moore and Depp elevate things. Depp would make a career out of playing oddball characters.7.9/10 – Worth one viewing. See "They Might Be Giants" and "A Thousand Clowns".