Synopsis
Homer is an orphan who was never adopted, becoming the favorite of orphanage director Dr. Larch. Dr. Larch imparts his full medical knowledge on Homer, who becomes a skilled, albeit unlicensed, physician. But Homer yearns for a self-chosen life outside the orphanage. What will Homer learn about life and love in the cider house? What of the destiny that Dr. Larch has planned for him?
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Cast
- Tobey MaguireHomer Wells
- Charlize TheronCandy Kendall
- Delroy LindoArthur Rose
- Paul RuddLt. Wally Worthington
- Michael CaineDr. Wilbur Larch
- Jane AlexanderNurse Edna
- Kathy BakerNurse Angela
- Erykah BaduRose Rose
- Kieran CulkinBuster
- Kate NelliganOlive Worthington
Recommendations
- 88
Charlotte Observer
To adapt it for a 130-minute movie, Irving ruthlessly cut away subplots, eliminated supporting characters and pared down the traits of the ones that remain. - 88
Christian Science Monitor
Leaves out portions of John Irving's novel that would have given it more balance and perspective, but the acting by Maguire and Caine is first-rate by any standard. - 88
New York Daily News
"I write 19th-century stories; they're supposed to affect you emotionally," says Irving, explaining why Tinseltown keeps knocking at his door. - 80
Dallas Observer
Rich in story, character, and design, The Cider House Rules is obviously a collaborative effort, but above all it is a triumph for director Hallström. - 75
San Francisco Examiner
What remains of the book's psychological underpinnings -- there are enough here to leave a permanent dent in the couch of any Freud-loving shrink - 75
San Francisco Chronicle
Has that Dickensian spirit wherein simple acts of kindness can bring an audience close to tears. - 67
Austin Chronicle
Oddly, most of the elements needed for a good movie are present here, but when added together they equal less than the sum of the parts. - 63
New York Post
A major disappointment, The Cider House Rules pales by comparison with the gutsier, more full-bodied adaptation of Irving's "The World According to Garp."
