Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

I had to read A Prayer for Owen Meany for AP English, and we watched this movie in class. We have a seminar coming soon that asks "Why do you think John Irving didn't want the name of his book to be attached to this movie?" If you both read the book and watched the movie, it's pretty easy to see why...Basically, the movie trivializes the most important parts of the book, or just doesn't include them at all (where are the three cousins???) The scene where Joe's mom is killed by Simon's baseball is almost laughable because of how cheesy it is, what with its slow motion and everyone's shocked expressions. The scene with the bus crash is even worse because of how...unrealistic it is. There's an entire scene about how Simon can hold his breath for an unnaturally long time, yet he couldn't make it out of the bus when it went under? Really? Owen's death scene in the book (which is completely different from the one in the movie, aside from the fact that he was saving a group of children in both of them) was emotional and literally tied the ENTIRE story together. This, though...it asks more questions than it answers.Adding on to the cheesiness, the kid that plays Joe is a really, REALLY bad actor, and I just can't take him seriously, especially when he acts sad about finding out who his father is or when Simon gets out of the bus. However, the kid that played Simon did a very good job and made for a pretty memorable character. Really, the only other roles in the movie with good actors were the Sunday school teacher and Joe's mother.The only reason this gets more than a 1 is because the movie does have some pretty funny parts, mostly the Christmas pageant scene. Overall though, this really isn't a good movie. It might be okay if you watch it alone, but it simply has nothing on the book. If you liked the movie, I guarantee you that the book is 100 times better.

Simon Birch (Ian Michael Smith) was born with a deformity that left him very short. He is smart and challenges authority like Reverend Russell (David Strathairn). His biggest supporter is his best friend Joe Wenteworth (Joseph Mazzello)'s mother (Ashley Judd). Her new boyfriend is the friendly Ben Goodrich (Oliver Platt). However, Simon accidentally kills her when he hits a baseball that strike her dead. Simon believes that God has a plan for him. The boys go in search of Joe's biological father. When they find the baseball that killed Joe's mother, Joe smashes up the coach's office and they end up doing community service.I was with this movie until Rebecca's death. It screws up the tone. I was expecting the movie to go a bit darker after the death but it got even lighter. At times, the movie is trying too hard to be light and fluffy. The movie struggles to find the sweet spot with so many different aspects of the story. I'm not saying the Christmas play wasn't funny. I just don't know which way the movie is going from one section to the next.

Beautiful and underrated. If you need hope in life then watch this film. The love and friendship between a small boy and his town is moving and shows that belief in hope, no matter how many want you to fail is stronger than anything. Love yourself and others as though you are not separate and you will learn how to live happily. The directing is phenomenal and the dialog is fantastic. Regardless of what you hate about yourself, this film will teach you how to be grateful for the life you live. The narration by Jim is perfect and not once do you believe he is telling a "story." He is speaking of the strength it takes to put your faith in another's hands and never regretting it because the life lessons you learn.

This was a good dramedy (comedy, drama). I liked the actors. It's about this boy named Simon Birch (Ian Michael Smith, in his debut and only role as an actor) who is very diminutive and is a misfit. His parents totally ignore him. His best friend Joe Wenteworth (Joesph Mazzello) is always by his side no matter what. He is secretly in love with Rebecca (Ashley Judd), his friend's mom. They're in baseball together and go to the lake together and he also secretly likes Marjorie (Cecilly Carroll). The funny part of the movie is when Simon says 'Boobs' to Majorie and yanks her down then she kicks Joe in the balls. The sad part is... I cannot say it. It will spoil it to people who haven't seen it. So rent it, watch it, laugh, cry and if you love it, own it. XD.