second movie review

I thought I would go ahead and do this now, instead of later, because I don't think this second movie review will be as long. Anyway, everyone who knows me knows I love Cher. I love her music, most of all, but I also like her as an actress. I've watched a few of her movies recently, but I really wanted to watch one called "Mask" because it was referenced in a season 5 episode of X-Files that I really love, called "The Post-Modern Prometheus." And since I've seen that episode a bajillion times, I figured it was time to watch "Mask." I had to put it on my DVD queue on Netflix, because they didn't have it on instant streaming. The movie arrived in my mailbox on Saturday, and I watched it last night before bed. So here goes my review.

Mask
1985
IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089560/

This movie was really heart-warming. It's based on a true story, about a boy named Roy "Rocky" Dennis, who has craniodiaphyseal dysplasia. I didn't even realize it was a true story until after I watched it and read up about it on Wikipedia and IMDB. I really liked it, but I have a tendency to have a soft spot for underdogs, and that's exactly what Rocky was.

One thing I found amusing was that the actor (Eric Stoltz) who played the main character is an actor I don't really like. But in the movie, you couldn't tell it was even him, because the character he plays has craniodiaphyseal dysplasia. So he was unrecognizable. That's awful, maybe, but it was easier to care for the character when I couldn't tell it was Eric Stoltz. I can't even remember why I hate him... I think it was because he was on "Mad About You," and he was very irritating. So irritating, in fact, that I can't stand seeing him anywhere else. Haha.

Anyway. The movie was very sweet. It was really easy to care about the boy and his family. He grew up with his single mother, Cher, and their "biker gang" family. And of course, I have a bit of a soft spot for motorcyclists. Even though I wouldn't consider my parents to be a part of a biker gang, or anything close to it, I have a fondness for people on motorcycles. Because I know a lot of awesome people who ride.

Cher, who played Rocky's mother, did a really good job, I thought. She was a drug addict in the movie, and a little bit slutty, but she was an awesome mom, for the most part. You could tell she really loved her son. And the relationship they had was very sweet, and real, I think. When a mother has a child who is disfigured like that... they are automatically going to stand up for their child and try to protect them. She was like a fierce mama lion in the movie. And he was just adorable. Plus, Cher looked super pretty. You know, real. Not like a plastic Barbie doll, which is how she looks now -- which don't get me wrong, I still think she's hot for a 64-year-old. Also, she sang a little bit in the movie, which always makes me happy. :) And I totally bought all of the acting... she plays a really good drug addict. Wait... that sounds wrong... Haha. Oh well. You get it, right? Right!

Sam Elliot played Cher's boyfriend. And he was super hot! I saw him in a recent Christmas movie and now he's just old, right? But back in the 80's, he was a hottie. And that voice is yum-yum.

Plus, the biker gang was really cute. They were an interesting group and all adorable for a variety of reasons.

Oh, and young Laura Dern was in it! She was 18 when it came out... It was weird to see her so young. I can't say that I really, truly like her... She seems a little weird... But I LOVE Jurassic Park, so I have a soft spot for her because of that.

Anyway. I don't think there's much else to say... Cute, heart-warming movie, with a sad ending. I would give it an A-.