not horrible nor great

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Two orphaned brothers living in Pittsburgh, one an ambitious medical student and the other a slow-witted garbage man, find the ties between them wearing thin when events begin to intrude into their self-sufficient existence. Up to a point the film is one of those odd, intimate dramas all too easily overlooked in a crowded market, with an interesting relationship at it's core: each brother is totally dependent on the other (one financially, the other emotionally) and each in his own way faces the inevitable moment of separation and independence. But who would ever guess the story might end on a spotlit fire escape with the retarded Dominick clutching a kidnapped baby, and half the armed forces of the free world mobilized against him? The overblown climax obliterates too many of the film's not inconsiderable virtues, and the sensitive performances aren't enough to stop the plot from going haywire.

Words are seriously not enough convey the emotional power of this film; it's one of the most wrenching you'll ever see, yet the ending is one of the most loving, tender, and emotionally fulfilling you could hope for. Every actor in every role is terrific, especially a wise and understated Jamie Lee Curtis, a tightly wound and anguished Ray Liotta, and a heart-stopping turn from Tom Hulce that should have had him up for every award in the book. (He's the #1 pick for 1988's Best Actor in Danny Peary's "Alternate Oscars.") The last half hour borders on melodrama, but the film earns every one of its tears--and unless you're made of stone, there will be plenty of them.

I loved this movie! It was all I could do not to break down into tears while watching it, but it is really very uplifting. I was struck by the performance of Ray Liotta, but especially the talent of Tom Hulce portraying Ray's twin brother who is mentally slow due to a tragic and terrible childhood event. But Tom's character, though heartbreaking, knows no self pity and is so full of hope and life. This is a great movie, don't miss it!!

Leonard Maltin and commenters gave this film favorable reviews, and I agree. This movie was magnificent and heartwarming, and Tom Hulce's performance was nothing short of remarkable. I gave this *** 1/2 out of ****.