The movie is interesting in its own peculiar way in the first 45 min or so. In the absence of a strong plot, it gets by with the help of its strong cast and decent acting which somehow keep you engaged without a gripping story. Then, it goes into a repetitive mode with a crawling pace and ends with a pathetic finale. I agree with other reviewers that Leonardo is very good in acting a retarded kid but his is only a one dimensional role where he twitches and fidgets the same way during the two longest hours you could experience. Juliette Lewis is supposed to be a wise and intriguing girl who attracts Gilbert at first sight. Her character, however, is utterly weird and vapid with her bizarre boyish look. The relation between Gilbert and Becky is sterile and contrived. A banal story, strong cast, good acting, feeble plot and a directorial disaster are the keywords for this snoozefest.
Review of What's Eating Gilbert Grape
