2 debuts, 1 great movie

By Wes Woods, On-Line Forty-Niner

Wednesday, September 9, 1998

"Simon Birch" is a film marked by two firsts.

The movie's star, 11-year-old Ian Michael Smith, marks his onscreen debut as the film's namesake. Director and screenwriter Mark Steven Johnson also makes his first appearance.

MOVIE REVIEW (PG)

The results are fine performances from both, despite an opening storyline flaw and a climax that seems a little too unbelievable.

"Simon Birch" is about a tiny, peculiar looking, religious 12-year-old who thinks his destiny is to become a hero. Intertwined with the main plot is Simon's best friend, Joe, who hopes to find his missing father.

Despite a slow start, the results of the movie are pleasantly surprising. The use of sarcasm, numerous humorous sexual references and life and death situations help push "Simon Birch" into the realm of excellent film making.

Unfortunately, in the beginning, Joe Wenteworth the adult, (played by Jim Carrey), reminisces over the grave of his best friend, Simon Birch.

Where is the suspense? Simon will die; it is just a matter of when. Why even see the movie? Luckily, there is more.

From here, viewers are drawn into the tumultuous lives of Simon and Joe (Joseph Mazzelo) growing up in Gravestown during the 1960s. Fellow classmates and church members frequently tease the diminutive and life- questioning Simon.

The story twists off in a new direction when Simon hits a foul ball, causing a shocking and catastrophic conclusion.

The cast in "Simon Birch" is excellent. Suspicious, heavy smoking, Sunday school teacher Miss Leavey (Jan Hooks) is hilarious, as is Smith as the sarcastic Simon.

"You're already a bastard," he deadpans to Joe about not knowing his father. "You might as well be an enlightened one."

Wenteworth as Joe, David Strathairn ("LA Confidential") as the Rev. Russell and Oliver Platt ("Bulworth") as Ben Goodrich are all exceptional.

While not a perfect movie, "Simon Birch," does hit all the emotional buttons.