User reviews

Greetings again from the darkness. Very few things provide me the thrill of watching a movie with a great story, interesting characters, wonderful acting and professional direction. This is the case even when I realize that of all the people I know, 97 out of 100 will not see the film. Such is "Thumbsucker".

Director and co-writer Mike Mills presents the film version of Walter Kirn's novel and nails the issues we all face with relationships and life. So many teen angst movies provide us one dimensional adults or even one dimensional teens. This film shows the struggles we all face at every age and every stage in life. Catherine Hardwicke's "Thirteen" was a powerful movie focusing on girls. "Thumbsucker" is every bit as powerful, if not a bit softer in its approach.

Relative newcomer Lou Taylor Pucci is stunning and brilliant as Justin, the seventeen year old thumbsucker who, along with 98% of the others his age, just can't seem to figure out what its all about. His character turns out to be one of the lucky ones who finally determines that none of us really get it. That includes his friends, parents, teachers, orthodontist and celebrities.

The supporting actors are stellar and very well cast. Justin's parents are played well by the great Tilda Swinton (slightly underused here) and Vincent D'Onofrio. His hypnotist would-be guru orthodontist is hilariously played by Keanu Reeves and Benjamin Bratt is the TV celeb whom Justin's mom carries a torch for. Vince Vaughn flashes some real acting chops as Justin's Debate Team sponsor. This is not the typical punchline Vince that we have come to expect. A real standout is Kelli Garner as Rebecca, Justin's first crush. This role was originally going to Scarlett Johansson which would have been a mistake. Garner is so believable as the would be world saver if she could just understand why everyone acts the way they do. Looking forward to more of her work.

For a movie that tackles such tough subject matter, it does an amazing job of keeping the viewer from being depressed. There is actually hope in the message. The soundtrack was a bit of a distraction at times, but not enough to ruin any particular scene. Also, there is a story line about Ridlin and ADHD that would require a thesis to to describe my disgust. This is a film that deserves a bigger audience than it will reach. Sadly, too many will line up to see "Proof" which only impersonates an important film.

I was really expecting to not like Thumbsucker. I don't care for "teen angst" movies. Now having seen Thumbsucker, I'm really confused as to why Sony would market it in this genre (teen angst = teen $, I guess) and why its below the 5-star mark here at IMDb. It's really a remarkable movie. When it hits its stride, about 30 minutes in, it gets to places that few movies ever get to with respects to growing up, family dynamics, being a teen, being an adult, just generally being human.

When I saw Thumbsucker, the screening was followed up with Q&A with the director and a few of the actors. Apparently they were all pretty dedicated to their rehearsals and developing the character's relationships. Their hard work paid off with an exceptional movie.

"Thumbsucker", one of the most original movies playing locally, deserves to be seen by a wider audience. Mike Mills, its director, has adapted Walter Kirn's novel with honesty and integrity, giving the viewer a picture of a young man and his family at a difficult time in their lives and how they relate and cope with the situation. This is no typical teenage coming of age as interpreted by Hollywood.

The film is an intelligent account of Justin's life and what makes him act the way he does. His home life seems to be the root of all the problems and his addiction to suck his thumb is a way to escape reality because he finds comfort in doing so. Justin is clearly a teenager in turmoil because he doesn't fit in the large scheme of things.

"Thumbsucker" makes a valid point about how easy it is to prescribe drugs for what seems to be afflicting Justin: Attention Deficit Disorder. In fact, what those pills are doing are creating a false security blanket for the young man, who awakens in time to realize the drug he is taking a form of "speed".

The work by Lou Taylor Pucci in the film is amazing. As Justin he shows an intelligence and naturalness well beyond his years. Tilda Swinton and Vincent D'Onofrio are seen as the confused parents. Keanu Reeves and Vince Vaughn make excellent appearances in roles that are different to what they usually play.

The film work because the good ensemble Mike Mills assembled for the movie.

Keanu Reeves is so funny in this movie. He has some superb lines to deliver, and superbly done. I couldn't decide if there was some tongue in cheek writing going on while thinking about his previous roles in Point Break and Matrix, subtle sayings and nuances of the character just made me think of that and laugh. Anyway, that's the first thing that has to be said, he is superb in the movie as Dr. Perry Lyman, the transcendental dentist! A similar mention needs to be given for Benjamin Bratt as Matt Schraam, you'll know him when you see him, who plays a TV Cop entered into drug rehabilitation and is struggling to stay on the straight and narrow. His performance is extremely tongue in cheek...and indeed hand in...well. Let's say that he was willing to have much more than just the mickey taken out of him.

Vince Vaughn also surprised me with a really good performance as Mr. Geary, the teacher in charge of the debating team. From what I've seen of him before he really does back down his performance and play a strong role. I was impressed by his acting, and I really will have to re-evaluate my opinion of his talent after this movie.

Since I'm talking about the talent in the movie I'll keep going and give the biggest and most deserved mention to the lead, Lou Taylor Pucci as Justin Cobb, the teenager who is just starting out on his journey of really growing up, finding girls, himself and a new relationship with his parents, something we've all been through (unless you were finding boys!) around that age and we have all faced with equally different results. It's only in this role that I've ever seen him act, and he does so perfectly convincingly, he doesn't falter at all throughout the movie. On screen he's totally engaging, as many actors far older than him must aspire to, his face just draws your eyes to him and with a subtle and almost meek performance he commands the scenes he enters.

It's interesting when looking at the roles of the parents. For the most part of the movie I thought Vincent D'Onofrio was the weaker part and the lesser actor, however I ended up feeling that this was down to his role and that of the dysfunctional Father who is having severe problems coming to terms with his own life. Likewise I felt that Tilda Swinton was the stronger actor of the two, until the Father gained more scenes, then I felt she was much weaker and her storyline seemed relegated to merely showing us that another of the characters has their own problems, and to introduce us to Matt Schraam, the addicted to anything actor.

At the beginning of the movie we find that Jason has a problem, he sucks his thumb for comfort and the movie shows us in an easy and effective way what he actually feels and hopes for during these moments. The movie is about a few things, but really about the fact that we're all messed up in some way, we all have problems, and we all have to deal with them. It just makes it easier if we open up a little and deal with them together. Through the film it explores this through the idea of addiction, and how some people need to be addicted to something to get them through, from the extreme of the actor to the lead himself who starts out addicted to sucking his thumb.

Another issue brought out of this movie is the idea that drugs are the answer, and that if there is a problem with someone then they immediately should turn to a Doctor and attempt a cure. The idea that a miracle pill is the answer to everything is explored very well in the movie. It's clever actually that many of these issues are sneaked in through the back door (sorry Schraam!), in that there's a light and a humorous angle to many of the scenes yet we're dealing with a big and contentious issue. The moment where Jacob and the parents are sitting in with the Teachers discussing his symptoms and suddenly the answer is the magic pill for Attention Deficit Disorder. These symptoms being, as the mother describes, as vague as easily distracted, fidgeting, etc. In other words, a teenager! That scene is very strong, and at that moment when the Teachers leap you don't know whether to laugh or feel awkward and ashamed that society has turned so easily to drugs being the answer instead of trying to turn to each other, open up a little, and not being so wrapped up in yourselves.

It's filmed really well, and apart from the dream\comforting scenes and the representation of the effects of the ADD drug, you forget that you're watching a camera filming the movie. In fact I can't remember being aware of the shots themselves, which is an excellent thing and means that I turned to the movie and really got pulled in.

Although the ending is a little twee, and it is really a feel good movie, it's the journey that is the important part and what is said on the way. It has an interesting look at how families behave and keeps you wondering where everything is going to turn out. In particular it has a lot to say about addiction, drugs, and both teen and adult angst.

It's a funny movie, with Reeves getting the biggest laughs without a doubt, it's also very serious but given to you in a lighter tone. I'm really glad I went to see this and I was surprised to have liked it so much. It had a lot to say in an easy digestible style, much like the pill for ADD, I'd prescribe this to anyone in a heartbeat.

Mike Mills may not be the most prolific of filmmakers, (he's only made three feature films in the last 10 years), but he's certainly one of the most idiosyncratic. If "Thumbsucker", his debut feature, feels like the kind of small, quirky picture that sometimes gives independent movies a bad name it might simply be because it deals with aspects of growing up that even small, independent movies tend to overlook.

Our teenage hero, (an excellent Lou Taylor Pucci), has issues that tend to stem from his inability to stop sucking his thumb but that's only the tip of the iceberg. This is essentially a film about psychoses but it lacks the hysteria we tend to associate with American films on that subject. Even its attitude to teenagers and teenage sexuality is distinctly European. Good performances, too, from Tilda Swinton and Vincent D'Onofrio as Pucci's parents, (only to be expected), but also from Vince Vaughan, never better as Pucci's teacher though Keanu Reeves, woefully miscast as a hippy dentist, is his usual wooden self. Worth seeking out.

It might seem strange at first to say independent film has become mildly formulaic, but it's slightly true. The salvation, however, comes in the form of originality. "Thumbsucker" has a lot of both and the result is a satisfying but not overly empowering movie.

"Thumbsucker" pulls together a cast that is no doubt impressive. There's everyone from mainstream actors like Vince Vaughn and Keanu Reeves to not as marquee but respected talents like Tilda Swinton and Benjamin Bratt. Most of the characters are very original and interesting which seems to either result in great success or a lapse in identification with the story. For example, the father, played by Vincent D'Onfrio seems to have a little to no parenting skills and while it makes an interesting character, it's a bit discomforting to be at peace with a character like that actually possibly existing.

The biggest Indie flaw is that there seems to be no thematic direction in the film. The ideas in the film are broad and precisely what the writer and even director are commenting on is too hard to pinpoint and the story unfolds. There is the thumbsucking habit, but there is also drug issues, fidelity, etc. It's not that there is no message, it simply takes more work to decode--the plot does not suggest to the viewer what things should be considered thematically. It takes some serious thinking to link all the many happenings in the film together.

There are some really great moments and characters going on in "Thumbsucker," but as a whole there doesn't seem to be a specific motion to the film and it loses some of the charm that many family-centered indies often provide.

A 17 year old kid named Justin is a typical high school numskull. Never good at school, never fully interested in his activities and like that wasn't enough, he's also 'weird'. Nothing non typical here, except that most people don't know that he's a.... thumbsucker. He just can't live without it.

One day everything changes. He knows a really nice orthodontist named Perry who offers him some suggestions about how to solve the problem with his thumb. It somehow works but not without it's side effects which lead to other methods of handling such problems.

Now it's really nice to see big names like Keanu Reeves and Vince Vaugn undertake a part in a little project like this. Vaughn really surprised me and this is probably the maturest role that he has ever been in. Reeves was of course like Neo, and looks like him every time he questions about life in general.

The film is really good for growing up teens but adults will enjoy it as well because of many 'grown up' subjects like disappointment in marriage, addictions, etc... You know how this works. It's one of those bitter-sweet stories that lift you up, take you down and say a bitter goodbye at the end. But not without a taste of sweetness because of knowing that in the end everything will be alright. It's no big deal but it's pleasant non the less.

....... +3/5 .......

Seventeen-year-old Lou Pucci (as Justin Cobb) still sucks his thumb, which disturbs his parents - registered nurse Tilda Swinton and ex-football star Vincent D'Onofrio (as Audrey and Mike). The Oregon family reluctantly agrees to put young Pucci on ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) medication, which improves Pucci's performance on the high school debating team led by teacher Vince Vaughn. Pucci is also able to read "Moby Dick" straight through. But the meds don't mix well with Pucci's other growing pains. He likes bosomy pot-smoking Kelli Garner (as Rebecca), thinks mother Swinton might be having an affair, and...

Strangest of all, Pucci is unable to realize orthodontist Keanu Reeves (as Perry Lyman) is more than a little weird. Instead of running from Mr. Reeves' office, he allows the hypnotic bridge builder to put him under. This and Pucci's inability to located interested partners are a little implausible, but otherwise "Thumbsucker" is a believable drama. Pucci and director Mike Mills are able to convey the excitement and anxiety associated with the time when you venture out on your own. Not aware anyone like Pucci still does it, thumb-sucking may be a little allegorical. It is nicely cast, with Pucci and Swinton especially believable as mother and son.

******* Thumbsucker (1/23/05) Mike Mills ~ Lou Taylor Pucci, Tilda Swinton, Vincent D'Onofrio, Vince Vaughn

this movie was absolutely beautiful in so many ways. as an adolescent Justin, the main character, struggles with trying to stop sucking his thumb, the film creatively explores issues of identity, self-worth, achievement, family dynamics and so many other elements of life that are difficult to articulate. The film is fun and funny, but at the same time cleverly portrays the hard parts of growing up and communicates a profound and moving message. i was fortunate enough to see this movie BEFORE it was released in theaters with a Q and A portion after the film, with the director, Mike Mills. he was every bit as charming and clever as his film and his personality could be clearly seen in the film's character. I'd recommend this movie to anyone who appreciates a good laugh, a good story, or a touching picture of what it means to be human.

I would just like to point out that the person who wrote the comment above me gave the main character three names throughout his post: Justin, Jason, and Jacob, when in actuality Justin is the one and only name of the main character. Elsewhere, the film itself was entertaining enough and I found myself engaged in the story from start to finish. The pace seemed slow, and I could have used more laughs, which is possible while still being serious. A type of dry humor I feel they were desperately trying to reach throughout this film but fell narrowly short of. While unique in its own right, you can't help but think it is just like all those other coming-of-age tales that started sprouting up so prevalently in the late 90's. See this movie for yourself...and than you write a review.

I have quite eclectic taste in movies and will give any genre a shot but I sure wish I bypassed this one. The story was so dull that I actually envied the main character in the scenes where he is in the dentist's chair because root canal surgery is preferable than viewing this film.

There is not a single character in the movie that seems real and its not the fault of the actors they were simply working such a terrible script that there was no hope of rescue.

Normally I would write quite an in depth review but this film does not warrant one and the only reason I wrote anything at all was to maybe save 1 or 2 other people enduring the hell on earth I have just endured.

Only one mans opinion of course but I am sure others have felt the same hope its of some use to someone.

Thumbsucker is a coming of age story about Justin Cobb (Pucci), an awkward, introverted, restless teenager with a thumbsucking problem. As the growing pains theme has reared its head is so many movies over the years, dressed in all different colors and flavors, one may ask if there are any more stories to growing up than haven't already been told. I went into Thumbsucker with that very mentality, and came out satisfied with what I had just seen. This movie offers a perspective into a young man's struggle to walk the tightrope of life: drugs, sex, success, disgrace, personal insecurities, etc. I can't say that I could relate much to Justin Cobb, as I have been able to do with characters from other movies in this genre, but I believe my ultimate struggle throughout my high school years was very similar. Thumbsucker has many Freudian parallels, the largest being the compensation of the thumb for a lack of security from the parents, namely the mother (Swinton), however, none of these parallels are over done. The humor maintains a level of existentialistic cynicism but remains an overall uplifter. Good movie, and strengthens my opinion of high school: no matter how much you liked high school, it still sucked.

Creating a lot of buzz at the Sundance Film Festival, but unfortunately having a very limited theatrical release, "Thumbsucker" recently came out on DVD for the mass audiences to see.

This independent film, based on the book by the same name, attempts to display the problems of American families in suburbia and a kids coming of age story. Although this plot seems a little contrived, "Thumbsucker" tackles many different issues on the subject that makes this film stand out from the rest.

The main character Justin (Lou Pucci) has a dilemma. The dilemma is that he is 17 years old and still sucks his thumb. He is a fairly shy kid and continues this addiction to his thumb as a coping mechanism to deal with the issues of adolescence.

His father (Vincent D'Onofrio) sees the act as extremely childish and looks down upon Justin for it. His mother (Tilda Swinton) on the other hand is too busy trying to win a contest for a date with her favorite TV star (Benjamin Bratt) to pay any attention to what is happening with her family. Justin finally realizes that his thumb sucking is causing problems with his family and his social life.

This is when Justin's unusual dentist (Keanu Reeves) decides to separate him from his thumb by using hypnosis. After not being able to comfort himself with his thumb he begins the mission of finding out just who he really is before reaching adulthood.

Through this journey the only people who aid him are not his parents but are in fact his debate club coach (Vince Vaughn) and his odd dentist who is also going through a stage of self-discovery. What Justin finds out is he is not the only person dealing with problems in his life. In actuality everyone is.

In true independent film fashion "Thumbsucker" relies on purely the story and acting in order to drive the film. It uses very soft camera shots to express the subtleties of these people's lives. The sets are also very bland therefore drawing all of the attention towards the characters.

For this film it works well because the story is the best part about it. These characters seem real and the viewer can easily relate to many if not all of them. Especially with that of Justin whose difficulties of growing up are probably quite similar to many of that age. The DVD itself is not very exciting having only a behind the scenes documentary, an interview with the author and director, and commentary by the director.

The behind the scenes documentary is fairly basic showing the different actors and their opinion on the movie, which is always that it is a great film and they loved doing it.

The interview between the author of the book Walter Kirn and director Mike Mills fortunately is extremely interesting. Here the two break down the story from the book and film and analyze all of its major themes and characters. Since the story in "Thumbsucker" is very deep and engaging it is intriguing to examine how the book translated into the film.

"Thumbsucker" is a film that has a little bit of everything from humor, to sadness, to joy. These are all of the elements that make a great dramatic film with a pertinent theme that everyone has their own problems and no one is truly alone in their struggles.

I know it's cliché to say the movie is not as good as the book, but when I read the book what seemed like may moons ago, I felt like I had really discovered a great story and a great writer. The movie lost all the comedy in what should have been a dark comedy, which was critical to getting through the painful experiences and really connecting with the characters in the book, and skipped some critical character development. This seemed to turn into a story about ADD, when in the book, you didn't necessarily feel like there was a diagnosis. If you loved the movie, read the book. If you didn't, read the book. It's great. So is Up in Air by the same author. The acting, though, is terrific, as is the casting.

"Thumbsucker" doesn't suck, at all! It's also not just another teen-angst flick. It is a funny, thoughtful, and enjoyable movie. I would give this two thumbs up! Although the movie revolves around Justin, a thoughtful, sensitive, teenager who happens to have a rather nasty habit of sucking his thumb, it also shows his relationship with his parents, brother, teachers, his peers and his dentist, who all undergo their own personal development during the course of the movie.

Justin and his brother call their parents by their first names, and in the case of the Cobbs, this doesn't seem to increase or decrease the level of respect or obedience teenagers have for their parents. Justin and his mother Audrey seem to be alike - they both have crushes: he, for a girl in his debating class, and she, for an actor on daytime TV.

"Thumbsucker" shows that teenagers with a lot of parental love and support can also end up feeling alienated anyway. The path to adulthood is often fraught with anguish, mostly self-inflicted. But sometimes, meeting a mean girl who'd break your heart in a second can do that too.

The casting is excellent - I hadn't checked the cast list before watching it, and was pleasantly surprised to find so many known and good actors in it. Keanu Reaves was a surprise, and a hoot to watch. Tilda Swinton is one cool lady, and I will certainly be looking out for her other movies.

I think Mike Mills really does have such a knack for really getting under his characters' skin and really examining this with such care and detail. He brought that to his later films, Beginners and 20th Century Women, and he does it here. The cast is also excellent. Lou Taylor Pucci really understands his character and he really brings such a heartfelt and sincere genuineness. Tilda Swinton also gives a very strong supporting performance, always rising above what is simply on the page and making an impact in the way she always does. This definitely seems like a common teen angst film but there's a lot going on that would be missed if people merely labeled it as such.

Despite the other comment, (obviously written by a studio jerk) this movie is not going to be the next Napolean Dynamite. Thank god. we don't need more idiotic 13 year old girls quoting otherwise good movies to death. Unlike the aforementioned movie, Thumbsucker seems to have substance, however unnameable that substance is. I saw this movie a few days ago and I'm still not sure how i feel about it. I know i didn't hate it, but i'm not sure i could say i loved it. This movie is very much like a Todd Solondz movie, without as much graphic sex. The leads are great, but Keanu is completely superfluous. The movie is pretty funny at times and pretty heavy other times, but it never seems to slow down too much. I really hope this movie does well in a wide release, it would be a shame to see it fade away like so many movies of its kind.

This movie was just terrible. It was a complete waste of time and money, and although I am a fan of Keanu Reaves and Vince, they really should have avoided this script.

I watched quite a while back, so can't really comment on the editing, etc - but the bitter after-taste still lingers and when I came across it here on IMDb, had to vent some latent frustration that had been pent up.

It's over-rated as a comedy, actually there's nothing remotely funny about it, and has no direction as a "coming-of-age" movie.

My advice : save yourself the hassle of returning to this page and commenting on how much this movie sucked.

I sucked my thumb as a child. But unlike Lou Taylor Pucci's character in this film, I had quit sucking my thumb long before high school. Justin is a senior in high school, he's shy, awkward, insecure, and his self-esteem is not helped by the fact that he's a 17 year-old thumbsucker. At its core, Thumbsucker is an adorable teenage comedy about addictions, bad habits, and the emotional crutches we reply on whenever we feel pain. Thanks to his hippy, new-age orthodontist (Keanu Reeves), Justin is hypnotized into thinking his thumb tastes horrible, so he quits. But the end of one addiction merely marks the beginning of the next, and Justin soon convinces himself that his ADHD medication will change his life. But why are we so consumed with changing? Is thumb-sucking really such a bad habit after all? It's healthier than smoking crack. Thumbsucker is pure joy from beginning to end.

Thumbsucker almost makes a point.

It is worth seeing for Keanu Reeves' performance alone, as an orthodontist (!) saying lines like "Call upon your power animal." Aside from that merit, there is of course Kelli Garner, one of the more riveting women to appear in movies in recent years.

Unfortunately, Vince Vaughan is wasted and the coming-of-age aspects of the story are undistinguished and typical, and the subplot of the mother's crush on a TV star never quite clicks with the central story. Kelli Garner's character is actually underused, and her interactions with the protagonist brush and fizzle but never really collide to produce any compelling drama.

I understand that this movie strongly supports the truthful concept of social development and evolution through redefining one's self, be it with a group activity, or drugs. I will even go so far as to say that it strongly promotes a "what makes us different makes us special," which is ethically very well. However any shred of ethos that can be derived from this movie is instantly lost when faces with the overwhelming fact that the person telling us this is Keanu Reeves.

That being said, i know many will feel entitled to tell me that a lesson learned from anyone is still a lessoned learned, which is true, i suppose, but it is still keanu reeves, and he plays a chain smoking dentist The argument is further broken down into pathos and logos The pathos of this movie is most likely the strongest element, not because it is in anyway strong, but because the logos is poorly executed, there is no logic to this movie. Logically it doesn't make sense. The kid receives hypno-therapy from his dentist? He partakes in a semi-nude drunken orgy with his debate team from alcohol he receives from his teacher? i am sorry, that is just inane.

Finally the redeeming pathos, well not thats not true, the pathos is far from redeeming, but it is there, which should count for something. By the end of the movie you do feel as though the kids life has emotionally effected you, you feel for the kid and his family, but that is about it.

All in all this movie is a poor attempt to teach us a lesson you either learn in first grade, or never learn, and that is that people are different and what is "popular is decided by the populous."