Simon Birch

Theatrical Release Date: 1998 09 11 (USA)

UPC: 717951002358

Studio: Walt Disney Video

MPAA Rating: PG   Contains:[Adult Situations, Suitable for Children, Profanity]

Summary: This comedy-drama features a narration by Jim Carrey, looking back to childhood in a manner similar to the narration on TV's The Wonder Years. The film is the directorial debut of writer Mark Steven Johnson, scripter of Grumpy Old Men and its sequel. Johnson adapted only a small portion of John Irving's 600-page novel A Prayer for Owen Meany (1989), but Irving requested a credit other than "based on" and also asked that the character name of Owen Meany be changed. So Owen became Simon Birch -- which then required a title change. In the title role is 11-year-old Ian Michael Smith, who is afflicted with Morquio's syndrome, a genetic disorder which causes dwarfism. The story begins when Joe Wenteworth (Jim Carrey) visits the grave of his childhood friend Simon Birch, whose stone is marked 1952-64. Joe explains that Simon is "the reason I believe in God." This is followed by a flashback to their friendship during the early '60s. In Gravestown, New Hampshire, young Joe Wenteworth (Joseph Mazzello) doesn't know who his father is, and his loving mother Rebecca (Ashley Judd) won't tell him. Joe's best buddy is young Simon Birch, born so tiny that his classmates pass him about like a "doll." Neglected at home, Simon turns to Rebecca as a surrogate mother, and he often has dinner with the Wenteworths. One night, Rebecca brings her friend Ben Goodrich (Oliver Platt) home for dinner, which annoys her crotchety mother (Dana Ivey). Later, the lives of the two 12-year-olds receive a cruel twist, and the two then become more curious to learn the secret of Joe's father. Shown in competition at the 1998 Montreal Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Category: Comedy Drama

Awards: Best Child Performance – Broadcast Film Critics Association

Features: Dolby Digital 5.1 audio
French-language track, Dolby Surround
Theatrical trailer
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Simon Birch

Format: Digital Video Disc (DVD)

Release Date: 05/18/1999

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Theatre Wide-Screen

Audio: DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1, DDS Dolby Digital Surround

Runtime: 113 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,French

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Cast and Crew: Roger Birnbaum  Producer 
Laurence Mark  Producer 
Marc Shaiman  Composer (Music Score) 
Mark Steven Johnson  Director 
Mark Steven Johnson  Screenwriter 
John Baldecchi  Executive Producer 
Ian Michael Smith  Actor 
Joseph Mazzello  Actor 
Ashley Judd  Actor 
Oliver Platt  Actor 
David Strathairn  Actor 
Dana Ivey  Actor 
Beatrice Winde  Actor 
Jan Hooks  Actor 
Cecilley Carroll  Actor 
Sumela-Rose Keramidopulos  Actor 
Sam Morton  Actor 
Jim Carrey  Actor 

Country: USA