It's not surprising that so many people who identify themselves as having mental challenges love this movie. It's nice to think that an older brother would drop his life to take care of you, no matter what your behavior is, and then his attention would be supplemented and supplanted by a quirky love interest like Johnny Depp. I want to see the film five years later after Joon has burned down their second house or apartment. The line I felt was most authentic in the film was Depp's character asking Quinn's character—"just how involved is she?" Meaning, what are the real parameters of her behavior? Is she really just quirky the way she was portrayed on film or are there going to be points when Sam is going to be too overwhelmed to properly care for Joon. How much of a real danger could Joon be for herself and anyone who takes care of her for an extended time? It is a cute fairy tale and for those of you who want to think that other people will come out of the woodwork to take care of you because you deserve to be taken care of—well, this is a fairy tale. Joon can't compromise. As long as Depp's character doesn't actually need Joon to be supportive of him or have understanding for him the relationship will be fine. (supportive isn't just making doe eyes at someone, its being able to put off personal pleasure to benefit someone else. Sam can do that for Joon, Benny can do that for Joon but can Joon do that for anyone else?) During the course of the movie it is made clear that Sam is used to not being listened to by other people. I have nothing but sympathy and praise for the Benny's of the world who step up and take care of a love one who is mentally challenged. I'm aware of mentally challenged couples who make a go at being married and having families, but I wonder how many social services they need in order to function? The machinery that some commenter's here are so negative toward is the only safety net that many mentally challenged clients have. A certain number of families do give over care of their loved ones to the state and then complain if that care is not up to their imaginary high standards. Bring them back into your home and don't suffer them to be taken care of by paid strangers, then.
And Depps' character does make clear in the film that the routines he is doing were authored by Chaplin and Keaton. He responds to Aidens' character that he can't make money off the routines because he didn't create them. This wasn't a bad movie, this was a flawed film that serves a need for people who want this particular fairy tale but it does a disservice to the caregivers of mentally challenged persons.
And Depps' character does make clear in the film that the routines he is doing were authored by Chaplin and Keaton. He responds to Aidens' character that he can't make money off the routines because he didn't create them. This wasn't a bad movie, this was a flawed film that serves a need for people who want this particular fairy tale but it does a disservice to the caregivers of mentally challenged persons.