If it weren’t for the general tiredness of the indie movie about a misfit kid trying to fit into a difficult world, “Thumbsucker” would score some points. It has good people in it and a few worthy observations, but sheesh, enough already.
The movie’s title character is a 17-year-old named Justin (played by Lou Taylor Pucci) who can’t shake the childhood habit of relying on his opposable digit whenever stress overtakes him. His father (Vincent D’Onofrio) is disgusted by the thumb-sucking, while his mother (Tilda Swinton) is too distracted by her fantasy of meeting a TV celebrity (Benjamin Bratt).
| Uneven: A 17-year-old sucks his thumb and wonders why he doesn’t fit in. Not a bad indie film but the teen-angst material has been done already.
Rated: R for language, subject matter. Now showing: Metro, Uptown |
Eventually Justin’s antisocial behavior gets him recommended for a course of Ritalin-type drugs, which his school advisers seem eager to foist upon him. The drugs change his behavior. Soon he’s excelling in his speech tournaments and reading “Moby Dick” in one sustained burst. But where’s the real kid?
Director Mike Mills doesn’t emphasize either the thumb-sucking or the drug regimen as the “Rosebud” of Justin’s life. Which is probably good; this isn’t an issue movie, it’s a movie about being 17 and not fitting in.
The difficulty of breathing new life into that kind of story becomes apparent after a half-hour or so. Lou Taylor Pucci, who acted in the very similar “Chumscrubber,” is a capable angst-purveyor, and might develop into a good leading man.
The rest of the cast is sometimes inspired. Swinton always brings a merciless eye to her roles, and there’s a nice turn for Vince Vaughn as a sympathetic teacher – for once he doesn’t have to improvise his way through a role. Kelli Garner, who was memorable in “The Aviator,” is sweet as Justin’s no-nonsense classmate.
On the other hand, Keanu Reeves’ role as a spacey dentist (you can’t hide thumb-sucking from a dentist) is less smooth. “Are you ready to let go of your thumb?” he asks, sounding more like an Oprah guest therapist than a dentist.
The film’s not a bust, and maybe it will speak to the “Donnie Darko” audience. But it isn’t quite urgent or original enough to feel fresh.
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