Simon Birch [DVD] [1999] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

You know how so many films claim that they will make you 'laugh and cry'? Well, this one really will.Simon Birch is a boy with dwarfism, growing up in a small, Rockwellesque (did I just make up a word there?) American town in the late 50s and early 60s. His best friend is Joe Wenteworth, an illegitimate, shy child who lives with his eccentric, charismatic mother and grouchy but ultimately kindhearted grandmother.Simon's parents are totally disinterested in him, so he is virtually adopted by Joe's mother and spends most of his time with the Wenteworths. The story really starts after an unfortunate accident at a baseball game, but you'll get no spoilers from me.This movie is utterly, utterly charming; in turns laugh out loud funny and heart breakingly sad. It flirts with being schmaltzy but never crosses the line. The acting (particularly the children) is wonderful and the story (adapted from a John Irving novel) is compelling. To be honest, being a cynical old fart with a love of horror movies and Quentin Tarantino, I really wasn't sure that I was going to enjoy this sentimental family film, but I was proved very, very wrong. I was totally sucked in within the first ten minutes.Don't judge this absolute gem by it's (admittedly dreadful) cover. Give it a chance. It's well worth it.

I caught a glimpse of this film on five in June and found it more interesting than both the motor racing and the football on ITV combined.This is a nice film about two boys who are best friends. Just because it has a PG rating doesn't automatically mean that it isn't any good. There are two basic subplots in here: Simon Birch (Ian Michael Smith) believes he is the chosen one from God and that He has a plan for Simon although nobody else believes this. Elsewhere, Simon Wentworth (Joseph Mazzello, great actor) has his own plan - to find his father. Best friend Simon helps him in this aspect but you can buy this movie to find out what happens between them. Look out for appearances too from Jim Carrey and one from John Mazzello, Joseph's younger brother.The DVD edition is a bit disappointing really because you only get the movie and a bit of spiel - I didn't even get an inlay card for the inside of the box - now that's just being cheap. The only real advantage over the VHS release is the widescreen picture.There are some good moments in this movie, some great scenes, great lines and the ending, without spoiling it here, is perhaps premature - the way Simon bleats on about God's plans for him and what not probably means that this is not what He had in mind.Good movie though nevertheless - 5/5. Worthy addition to any DVD collection.

Simon Birch is about two 12 year old friends in the 1950's. This is a lovely film about friendship and forgiveness. It's also very, very sad, but life affirming too. It made me cry in several places, which is strange as of course I'm a class A Alpha Male, as hard as granite and like nothing better than the idea of eating a virtually raw steak (from a cow I slaughtered with my bare hands) with a side order of peeled and salted babies, whilst at the same time firing a big gun (ideally large calibre, fully automatic), talking about football, drinking a huge amount of beer, driving a massive car way over the speed limit and enjoying the company of a couple of well endowed, young, blonde ladies. This is a film you should make an effort to see; it's so much better than it sounds. For some reason it reminded me of the Station Agent; both films are about friendship and include a small person in the cast. (Actually the Station Agent is one of my favourite 50 films of all time.) Please watch Simon Birch; watch it with someone you care for.

Brilliant service but unfortunately i cannot play this dvd on my dvd player . The advert stated something about it cause it had come from America but as i am not familiar i was not aware. Not the problem of the seller but my lack of knowledge . Think it should be stayed clearer for other people with lack of knowledge . Still looking for this dvd so I can watch it on by British dvd . Brilliant film

According to our family, this is the saddest, but also most heart-warming film EVER! Couldn't get a copy in the UK, so had to import from USA, but my daughter was delighted when she saw that I had managed to track it down.

Ok

Could not watch it for USA only should be something on to say for USA only. The film is brilliant I have seen it before didn't

Fantastic Film