The Cider House Rules (1999)
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71% of critics liked it
(111 reviews) -
75% of users liked it
(51,818 ratings)
John Irving scripted this screen adaptation of his 1985 novel. Set during World War II, The Cider House Rules concerns Homer Wells (Tobey Maguire), an orphan who spent most of his childhood at the St. Cloud Orphanage in rural Maine, where he grew up under the strong but affectionate care of Dr.… More John Irving scripted this screen adaptation of his 1985 novel. Set during World War II, The Cider House Rules concerns Homer Wells (Tobey Maguire), an orphan who spent most of his childhood at the St. Cloud Orphanage in rural Maine, where he grew up under the strong but affectionate care of Dr. Wilbur Larch (Michael Caine). Larch has passed along his medical education to Homer, and the young man helps the doctor care for abandoned children and the newborn babies of unwed mothers; however, Homer refuses to assist Larch with the illegal abortions that he performs on the side; Homer has moral objections to abortion, while Larch believes in the rights of the individual and sees it as his duty to keep women in need away from dangerous incompetents. Wally Worthington (Paul Rudd), an air-force pilot, brings his girlfriend Candy (Charlize Theron) to St. Cloud for an abortion, and Homer decides to go with them when they leave, hoping to see the world; however, the three end up going no further than the state line, where Wally's mother (Kate Nelligan) runs an apple orchard and cider mill, and Candy's family traps lobsters. When Wally ships off to battle, Homer grows closer to Candy, and the two fall in love. But their idyllic life at the cider mill is interrupted when Rose Rose (Erykah Badu), a field worker at the orchard, becomes pregnant and her father, cider-house foreman Mr. Rose (Delroy Lindo), turns out to be the father of her unborn child. This news coupled with the death of Dr. Larch, forces Homer to take a long look at both his moral principles and his future. Rapper Heavy D appears in the supporting cast as Peaches. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Lasse Hallström
- Written By
- John Irving
- Genres
- Drama
- In Theaters
- Dec 10, 1999 Wide
- Studio
- Miramax
Critic Reviews
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David Rooney, Variety
Hallstrom's film could have used more dramatic muscle but is nonetheless a touching, old-fashioned charmer that ultimately satisfies.
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Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
Mr. Irving remains a disturbingly facile spinner of yarns in which the most sordid facts of life are glossed over into comfortably didactic homilies about the innate goodness of people. Yet, I was somehow moved...
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, Time Out
Hallström's humanism is possibly a little low key and romantic given such tough themes as abortion and incest.
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Bob Graham, San Francisco Chronicle
[It] is a fable that turns into a 1940s New England variation on Charles Dickens. It is also one dickens of an American movie.
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Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
A deliberately old-fashioned picture that succeeds in nearly everything it tries to do.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Tobey Maguire
as Homer Wells
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Charlize Theron
as Candy
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Delroy Lindo
as Mr. Rose
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Paul Rudd
as Wally Worthington
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Michael Caine
as Dr. Wilbur Larch
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Jane Alexander
as Nurse Edna
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Kathy Baker
as Nurse Angela
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Erykah Badu
as Rose Rose
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Kieran Culkin
as Buster
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Kate Nelligan
as Olive Worthington
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Heavy D
as Peaches
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K. Todd Freeman
as Muddy
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Paz de la Huerta
as Mary Agnes
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Erik Per Sullivan
as Fuzzy
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Lonnie Farmer
as Hero

