If I could give this film a zero out of ten, I would. I saw it on dollar night and wanted my money back. This is possibly the most offensive piece of work I have ever had the misfortune to sit through.
The story centers around Garp (Robin Williams), "the bastard son of Jenny Fields (Glenn Close)," as he is referred to so often throughout the film that the viewer is as annoyed by the phrase as he is. Jenny, a sex-hating and man-hating woman, conceives Garp when she is an army nurse caring for a patient with a head wound who sports an enormous erection, of which Jenny takes advantage. "Garp" is apparently the only sound the poor man can make, and so she decides to name the baby that. In the opening scene of the film, Jenny tells her parents this in excruciating detail. Despite the fact that child is a boy, she does lavish a great deal of love on him, and he grows up to be a writer. His life path deals with love, infidelity, the loss of a child in perhaps the most bizarre accidents in film history - one that causes the castration of another character, and his own frustrations in being overshadowed by his mother, who becomes famous when she writes a book about her experiences. Jenny becomes the center of a movement of women who seem to have a capacity for hatred that exceeds even hers. Ultimately, this leads to her assassination, and a funeral from which her son is barred merely because he is male (never mind that he's actually family and grieving his own loss). An old childhood enemy recognizes him at the service, and blows him in. The same enemy shows up at the end of the movie and shoots him - pointless violence to end a pointless movie.
Admittedly, I don't have the sensibilities to enjoy this film, but I think that is its biggest failing. I have been told time and time again that I would appreciate the movie more if I read the book. Why should I have to read the book? The movie should stand on its own in telling the story. This one doesn't. Motives are undefined. Explanations of illogical behavior are not forthcoming. Little makes sense, either in the "world according to Garp," or in the world at large. And much that might be humorous simply isn't because of the way it is presented.
Given the star power in the movie, the acting is quite disappointing. Glenn Close is unpleasant, as usual, but unfortunately for her, this is a character that needs a softness that she is completely unable to give. Jenny as Close plays her, is merely obnoxious. Jenny in the hands of a better actress could be a woman you loved to hate, or vice versa. Williams' portrayal fares little better, although at least we understand his emotions and his actions as a result of them - insofar as he understood them, and it's not always apparent that he did. Mary Beth Hurt does a nice job with Helen, providing one of the few likable characters in the course of the movie. John Lithgow is a scene stealer in the role of a post operative trans-gendered woman, and deserved the acclaim he got for the role. Brenda Currin as Pooh is merely an irritating plot device, as she gives no depth to the character, and no explanation for Pooh's actions (unless you are to believe she's merely insane, and that doesn't seem to be what is indicated).
Ultimately I found the movie to be a disappointing waste of time. Perhaps reading the book would have been better, but I was so soured on the story after sitting through the movie, that the book holds no appeal at all now. Which says a lot about just how bad this movie is.
The story centers around Garp (Robin Williams), "the bastard son of Jenny Fields (Glenn Close)," as he is referred to so often throughout the film that the viewer is as annoyed by the phrase as he is. Jenny, a sex-hating and man-hating woman, conceives Garp when she is an army nurse caring for a patient with a head wound who sports an enormous erection, of which Jenny takes advantage. "Garp" is apparently the only sound the poor man can make, and so she decides to name the baby that. In the opening scene of the film, Jenny tells her parents this in excruciating detail. Despite the fact that child is a boy, she does lavish a great deal of love on him, and he grows up to be a writer. His life path deals with love, infidelity, the loss of a child in perhaps the most bizarre accidents in film history - one that causes the castration of another character, and his own frustrations in being overshadowed by his mother, who becomes famous when she writes a book about her experiences. Jenny becomes the center of a movement of women who seem to have a capacity for hatred that exceeds even hers. Ultimately, this leads to her assassination, and a funeral from which her son is barred merely because he is male (never mind that he's actually family and grieving his own loss). An old childhood enemy recognizes him at the service, and blows him in. The same enemy shows up at the end of the movie and shoots him - pointless violence to end a pointless movie.
Admittedly, I don't have the sensibilities to enjoy this film, but I think that is its biggest failing. I have been told time and time again that I would appreciate the movie more if I read the book. Why should I have to read the book? The movie should stand on its own in telling the story. This one doesn't. Motives are undefined. Explanations of illogical behavior are not forthcoming. Little makes sense, either in the "world according to Garp," or in the world at large. And much that might be humorous simply isn't because of the way it is presented.
Given the star power in the movie, the acting is quite disappointing. Glenn Close is unpleasant, as usual, but unfortunately for her, this is a character that needs a softness that she is completely unable to give. Jenny as Close plays her, is merely obnoxious. Jenny in the hands of a better actress could be a woman you loved to hate, or vice versa. Williams' portrayal fares little better, although at least we understand his emotions and his actions as a result of them - insofar as he understood them, and it's not always apparent that he did. Mary Beth Hurt does a nice job with Helen, providing one of the few likable characters in the course of the movie. John Lithgow is a scene stealer in the role of a post operative trans-gendered woman, and deserved the acclaim he got for the role. Brenda Currin as Pooh is merely an irritating plot device, as she gives no depth to the character, and no explanation for Pooh's actions (unless you are to believe she's merely insane, and that doesn't seem to be what is indicated).
Ultimately I found the movie to be a disappointing waste of time. Perhaps reading the book would have been better, but I was so soured on the story after sitting through the movie, that the book holds no appeal at all now. Which says a lot about just how bad this movie is.