There was a time when, in the western world, there wasn't a word for what we now know as 'teenager'. I've no doubt everyone nevertheless experienced all those emotions and thought processes that we go through in making the transition from child to adult. Somehow just naming that time, (being a teenager), isn't enough now either for the young person themselves or anyone else dealing with them as they muddle through with their personal set of 'growing-up' issues. Thumbsucker is an absolute delight. It is down to earth, funny, insightful, moving, instructive and very engaging. This is as a result of some very fine acting of a very well crafted script from a clearly wonderful storyline. The only quibble I had was with the choice of music - for me, it mostly didn't add to or colour the action, rather the opposite. There was one exception and that was when we see Justin sitting in the orthodontists waiting room - oh yes, if you've ever been there, this is the music you'll hear where ever there is 'new age''spiritual' happy-clappy stuff on offer. Interesting that it is this, alongside the later drug treatment that provide the 'magic bullet' to stop the 'problem behaviour'. Happily, the film ends returning Justin's harmless (except to his teeth)self comforter to him. A masterful treatment of a common reality for, I suspect, more people than will be enticed to see it. The title 'Thumbsucker' seems entirely right, yet, I can see that it would put off a sizeable proportion of the potential audience. And that is a real crying shame.
Review of Thumbsucker
