Cider House Rules

reviewed by Vivian Rose, age 14, from US

"Cider House Rules" opens like "Annie" minus the music, with lots of children in an early 1900's orphanage.

The main character is Homer Wells (Tobey Maguire) an orphan who is never successfully adopted, so he grows up at the orphanage. Dr. Larch (Michael Caine), the kind old country doctor in charge of the orphanage, trains Homer to be an obstetrician/pediatrician. That includes performing abortions, which Homer refuses to do.

When he's about eighteen, Homer decides to leave the orphanage with an unmarried couple, who dropped in for a quick abortion. While traveling back to their hometown with them, Homer learns that the man is in the Air Force - that means he will shortly be flying off to a mission in Burma, leaving his girlfriend Candy (Charlize Theron) alone.

"I'm not good at being alone," Candy complains. She sure has that right. About five minutes after bidding Boyfriend a fond adieu, she's in the sack with Homer.

Meanwhile, Dr. Larch wants Homer to return to the orphanage and work as a doctor (despite the fact that Homer lacks M.D. credentials).

"Cider House Rules" isn't particularly entertaining; the plot was terribly blatant, and none of the characters were intriguing.

Rating : PG-13 for mature thematic elements, sexuality, nudity, substance abuse and some violence.

Discuss "Cider House Rules" or Vivian's review in Cyberkids Connection.