The Mighty

Year: 1998
Cast: Kieran Culkin, Elden (Ratliff) Henson, Sharon Stone, Gillian Anderson, Harry Dean Stanton, Gena Rowlands, James Gandolfini, Joe Perrino, Meat Loaf Aday, Jenifer Lewis
Directed By: Peter Chelsom

Like "Simon Birch," this one also features a central character, Kevin (Culkin), who's smart and brave despite suffering from Morquio's syndrome. His new neighbor, Max (Henson), is just the opposite: large in size, not too bright, and afraid of everything. The two quickly find they're much stronger as a team than individually. When Kevin is made Max's reading tutor, he brings along a book on the legend of King Arthur. Kevin rides Max's shoulders and, dubbing themselves "Freak the Mighty" (the title of Rodman Philbrick's novel, on which the film is based), the inspired boys embark on knightly neighborhood quests, even facing the evil Black Knight--in the form of Max's ex-con father. Henson is amazing as the at-first introverted Max, and Culkin does a good job as Kevin. Stone's understated performance as Kevin's mom shows she's more than a sexpot.

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