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I Am Sam

Love Is All You Need
Apr 14, 2012Monolith rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Who knew 30 years ago that the stoner Jeff Spicoli in 1982's "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" would become such a talented dramatic actor? Sean Penn's taken on a number of challenging major roles masterfully. Unfortunately, it's almost painful to watch him acting as someone with Down's Syndrome in this film, because I'm constantly aware of the "acting"... And it's not just him. Anyone pretending to be mentally disabled is - well, just that. Very obviously pretending. It just doesn't work. Perhaps if they had gone the route of, for example, that innovative family TV drama years ago: "Life Goes On", with someone like that young man who played Corky Thacher, who really had Down's Syndrome, and was terrific. All or nothing. Genuine or fake. Anyways, it was a sweetly conceptualized story, I enjoyed the influence the Beatles had on it (All You Need Is Love!). Michelle Pfeiffer was well cast, and seven year old Dakota Fanning was as smart as a whip.