SIMON BIRCH

I love this film for many reasons. To me, it has all the elements of a great story: comedy, tragedy, a good dose of authentic 'americana' (set in coastal Maine), interesting and 'real' characters, a timeless message, powerful archetypes, 'real' emotion and a great soundtrack. What more can you ask for?The film centers around an endearing friendship between two young boys. One, without a father, and the other deformed and virtually disowned by his family, yet born with an uncanny awareness of his destiny and life purpose, which the film eventually plays out. The bond that is developed in this story between the two boys is very affecting. Realistic, without getting at all 'sappy'. All the characters in the film are excellent and fit exceedingly well. The Rev. Russell, Simon, Joe Wentworth, Ben Goodrich and the lovely Ashley Judd as Joe's mother are all superbly portrayed, and each are characters one develops a good deal of empahy for during the course of the film. Even the reverend, a shadow of a man, tormented by the spineless choices of his past is portrayed in his humanity as one deserving of mercy and understanding.The movie is at times hysterically funny too. I mean, really very, very funny! The Christmas Pagaent scene is one of the funniest things I"ve ever seen... maybe because I grew up in that traditional New England atmosphere and have lived through my own version of it!Jim Carey, playing a serious role, makes two brief appearances in the film (at the beginning and the end) as the adult Joe Wentworth, and he fits great in that role. The acting of Joseph Mazzello as the young Joe is among the best acting jobs I've seen by a young person. He steps into the character perfectly.Simon Birch is a wonderful film that acknowledges the spiritual essence of people, divine providence, life purpose, consequence of choices, the connections between souls, the sometimes absurdity of life and the mystery of why life unfolds as it does. Be warned: It easily elicits tears. It is both very heavy and light as a feather. Deep as the ocean and yet it doesn't take itself too seriously. Very well done. If I was forced to choose one movie I would not want to live without, it would be this one. Highly recommended.

Great movie. Highly recommend.

Good movie!

Great move

My whole family watched this movie together. I've seen it a million times, and I both laugh and cry in the same places every time I view it. Such a beautiful theme...that everyone has purpose in this life, that we are all divinely created and placed on this earth by our Creator to help our fellow man and that we all are beautiful in our own way. This is not a religious film per se, and I loved that it was not preachy...there is some bad language, but not much...so if you plan to watch it as a family, I would watch it first and decide if your children are old enough to watch.

I always love to watch Simon Birch during the Holiday season. My children would watch this movie over and over, when they were little.

Simon Birch is one of those rare films that sticks with you long after the credits roll. Based loosely on John Irving’s novel A Prayer for Owen Meany, it tells the story of a boy who believes, despite his small stature and physical limitations, that he is destined for a heroic purpose.The strength of the film lies in its emotional depth and the remarkable performance by Ian Michael Smith as Simon. His unwavering faith and moral clarity contrast beautifully with the flawed and confused adults around him. Joseph Mazzello, playing Simon’s best friend Joe, brings a subtle, grounded performance that balances Simon’s larger than life conviction. Together, their friendship is the heart of the movie. It is sweet, funny, heartbreaking, and deeply human.Visually, the film is warm and nostalgic, capturing the feel of small-town life with sincerity. The religious themes are overt but not preachy, focusing more on purpose, sacrifice, and what it means to truly believe in something bigger than yourself.That said, the film isn’t perfect. It leans heavily on sentimentality at times and can feel emotionally manipulative, especially in the final act. Some of the supporting characters are underdeveloped, and the pacing lags in places. Still, the payoff is powerful and sincere.Overall, Simon Birch is a heartfelt, faith tinged coming of age story that explores destiny, loss, and courage through the lens of a truly unforgettable character. It’s not a flashy film, but it doesn’t need to be. It reminds us that the most extraordinary souls often come in the smallest packages.

I love the movie