Benny & Joon ** (1993, Johnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson, Aidan Quinn, Julianne Moore, Oliver Platt, C C H Pounder, Dan Hedaya) – Classic Movie Review 10,708

Director Jeremiah Chechik’s 1993 romantic comedy drama Benny & Joon features Aidan Quinn as Spokane garage owner Benny, who looks after his disturbed, mentally challenged young sister Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson), who wins dotty, eccentric Sam (Johnny Depp) as a home help in a poker game. Lo and behold, Mary and Johnny fall in love, and they find a nice girl (Julianne Moore) for Aidan too, and, after the odd trial and tribulation, they all live happily ever after.

This really won’t do. The performances are sweet and expert enough, Depp does good Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton impersonations in another deft portrayal of a charming eccentric, but it is all glibly well-meaning and good-hearted, and really very boring.

It also features Julianne Moore, Oliver Platt, C C H Pounder, Dan Hedaya, Joe Grifasi, William H Macy, Liane Curtis and Eileen Ryan.

It is written by Barry Berman, from a story by Lesley McNeil and Barry Berman.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,708

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