Sean Penn has been overlooked as a ’real’ actor - maybe because of his failed marriage to Madonna, or ... because of his political views? Who knows? At any rate, his performance as ’Sam’ has been much-maligned (especially in the U.S.) by so-called ’professional movie reviewers’ who compare his character ’Sam’ to Dustin Hoffman’s ’Raymond’ in ’Rain Man’. Well, PHOOEY on all that!
Penn portrays an intellectually challenged/mentally retarded dad (’Sam’), who loses custody of his 7-year old daughter ’Lucy’ (Dakota Fanning). Michelle Pfeiffer portrays a neurotic lawyer (with her own marital/child-rearing problems), who agrees to represent Penn in his quest to regain custody of his daughter. Laura Dern is Lucy’s court-appointed foster mother.
This movie not only does a GREAT job of attacking the U.S. judicial system’s belief that a parent is not ’qualified’ to BE a parent unless he/she is educated, employed, & has ’normal’ friends - this movie accurately and unabashedly informs the audience that even though a parent IS educated, employed, etc., he/she has ’faults and challenges’ as well.
Despite some ’over-acting’ by Penn and Pfeiffer, this movie addresses ’real-life’ issues in the U.S. For example: Does mental retardation mean that a person cannot feel love, assume responsibility for oneself and another, be employed, and find happiness and joy in life?
The audience may - or may not - understand the significance of ’family’ in this movie. Ultimately, the viewer might find him/herself re-considering the concept of ’family’ during this movie.
Laugh! Cry! Better yet - understand!!