Pumpkin (2002)

That was an excellent one.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Blistering performances.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

"It's beyond classification." so says Roger Ebert. I'll agree to that, Pumpkin is a messI do not see what is to like about this film which is over directed, amateurishly written, and childishly acted. It is muddled and unfocused, and denies brains, humour and heart. One minute it is sappy and plushy, and the next it is sour and sleazy. The sheer yuckiness of this movie is offencive. This pumpkin is rotten and it stinks.The first step to repairing the movie is to fire Christina Ricci and hire someone who can act. Ricci's performance is absolutely dreadful, Why did she not receive a golden raspberry award. The next step to repairing this film would be to give it some direction. The central premise concerns Ricci's character falling in love with a disabled boy who she is tutoring, and their relationship starts to screw up her life and her local reputation. Why couldn't this movie have been a strait forward romantic/comedy? Simplicity is often the best approach right. Instead the movie tries to integrate three or four subplots which lead absolutely nowhere, and in an attempt to bring all the connections together, Pumpkin takes forever to end.I laughed once, maybe twice and that was it. If this is supposed to be a comedy, where is the humour? There is nothing remotely funny about this movie, nor is there anything charming, romantic, or original about it. It is an overdone, artificial wreck of a motion picture that belongs in the trash.

By far the worst movie I've ever seen. This movie took every stereotype known to man kind and tried to dispel it. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that their intentions were paved in gold, but it was just too much. The only thing that kept us watching it was the thought that at some point in time the movie would get better, but nope, never happened. The movie ended and never before had the three of us wished we could have that time back.It would have been one thing if the movie was even remotely believable, but it was so far stretched that even if they had tapered off on some the points they tried to make, it still wouldn't have hit home. Best way to describe it is like applying makeup, the more natural it looks the better, but if it's gobbed on and the lipstick is too red and too thick, you don't want to go near it.

Movie starts out on a fairly even, believable keel and then subtly skews into some alternate universe. Believable, I guess due to the proliferation of chicks flicks, is the stereotype of the white girl with the 'perfect'life boyfriend etc whose greatest challenge in life is winning some sorority award. Unbelievable is the transition to self-discovery via a relationship that develops with a mentally challenged guy who does little more than stare at her initially. The girl's character fills in much of the formation of the relationship as though it were all happening in her head and the challenged character seems to comply and follow through independently. A key question is asked seemly innocently and then revisited at the movie's end "Caroline why does the moon ..change..?" Caroline asks in the end if pumpkin meant it literally or metaphorically to which he gives the audience's collective "What!?!?" reply. Not so much that the question is not understood but one is left wondering what that had to do with the overall message of the movie. It was as if to suggest that there be no real tangible reason why things happen the way they do.It is a touching movie, it is nice to believe that good things can happen to all people. I just think that the way it is told is a disservice to the audience.

I have mixed feelings for this movie. I don't know, this movie is: weird, funny, interesting, sad, it has a criticism for society and people in general, etc. The movie isn't all about the Pumpkin character; it focuses on the selfish Caroline and how she believes the world is at her feet. She has the perfect life: friends, money, a family, beauty, she's popular, she has a handsome boyfriend, etc. She's perfect. But her perfect life makes her imperfect. I mean, she believes she can change things in other people's life just because "it's her". At some point in the movie she believe she's Cupid , then she believes she can understand REAL pain (not her kind of pain which consists of not getting what she wants in life), and also she believes Pumpkin is suffering a lot while he is happy even with his condition. But the then movie takes a twist and demonstrates how Caroline has changed and finally has understood about people's feelings. Tragic events were necessary for her to become mature. But also, people had to experience terrible situations in order for her to be finally on her two feet (Kent's accident, having sex with Pumpkin, etc.).Her true feelings are really weird... at first she has repulsion for Pumpkin, but then she has symphaty for them which she confuses with compassion. Then she falls in love with him and finally, she has sex with him. What was that all about? I mean, I understand she was confused but changing drastically your feelings and preferences is not normal...something that leads me to believe that she had some kind of sickness that consists of being attracted physically and emotionally for people with special capacities (such as Pumpkin).So in the ending the things get more confusing... she still gets what she wants at other people's cost. Now Kent is invalid, Pumpkin is depressed because of her absence, the sorority house bitches lost their competition, etc. So maybe I didn't get the whole point of the move but that's what it makes it a great viewing experience. The movie throws you many situations for you to make your own conclusion. It also displays some socially incorrect behaviors and also shows displays of humanity and kindness. At some points I thought this was cheap exploitation and mockery for people like Pumpkin. Then I changed my mind and thought this was a dark comedy for teens. Then I believed it was a movie to display how disturbed a rich girl can be... The truth is that I enjoyed the whole movie and after it's ending, I came to the conclusion that you just have to make your interpretation of the movie. So I can say that "Pumpkin" is a movie that makes a critic against society and how it treats people like Pumpkin, but also demonstrates how this people are happy even with their situation. Also I came up with the conclusion that the movie tries to exploit the Caroline character. It's all about her and her development. Which I believe it's a very interesting, dark character.Christina Ricci's performance is simply great, she's at her best in this one. She can be tender, naive, bitchy, but also can demonstrate she is in pain, or that she can be blinded by love or confusion. Pumpkin was a great character and the actor who portrayed him was also at his best. The rest of the cast is okay. The direction is simple but fast paced. Pumpkin is a visually stunning and attractive movie. The soundtrack is perfect for the events. You can't get a better soundtrack in my opinion. The technical aspects of the movie should be treated apart as this movie focuses on the plot development instead.