Rain Man - A Movie Review

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"Rain Man" is a comedy-drama road movie released in 1988. It was the highest grossing film of 1988 with receipts of $354.8 million and a budget of $25 million. It was nominated for 8 Academy Awards and won 4. This movie was met with mostly positive reviews from critics. CAST Dustin Hoffman - Raymond "Ray" Babbitt Tom Cruise - Charles "Charlie" Babbitt Valeria Golino - Susanna Jerry Molen - Dr. Bruner Ralph Seymour - Lenny Michael D. Roberts - Vern Bonnie Hunt - Sally Dibbs Beth Grant - Mother at Farm House Lucinda Jenney - Iris Charlie Babbitt, a mid-twenties Los Angeles car dealer, is in the middle of importing four Lamborghinis to Los Angeles for resale. Important buyers who have already made down payments are waiting for the cars; and Charlie must make delivery in order to repay the loan he took out to buy the cars. The deal is being threatened by the EPA because they are holding the cars which have failed the emissions test. If the requirements cannot be met, Charlie stands to lose a significant amount of money. Charlie must stall the creditors; and he tells an employee to lie to the buyers. Charlie leaves for a weekend trip to Palm Springs with his girlfriend, Susanna. Charlie's trip is cut short when he gets the news that his estranged father has passed away. Charlie travels to his hometown in Cincinnati, Ohio, to settle the estate. He finds out that he is receiving his father's 1949 Buick Roadmaster convertible and some dying rose bushes. $3 million of the estate is being directed to Walbrook, a mental institution where his brother, Raymond, is staying...a brother that he had no idea that he had. Raymond has savant syndrome which is a high-functioning form of autism; and he requires a strict routine because he becomes nervous and agitated over changes in his daily life. Charlie takes Raymond out of the institution; and because Raymond is deathly afraid of flying, they take off on a cross-country road trip back to Los Angeles to meet with Charlie's attorneys. Not only is this movie entertaining; but it's educational. It gives you a deeper understanding of autism through Hoffman's excellent portrayal of an autistic savant. There is comedy; there is drama; and there are scenes to warm the heart. You will get to find out what happens to Charlie and Raymond on their cross-country drive and also what happens when they reach Los Angeles. I highly recommend that you see this movie. This movie is rated R. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons (Tom Cruise)