A Vietnam veteran helps his kids battle over a tree house while recovering from his traumatic war experience.A Vietnam veteran helps his kids battle over a tree house while recovering from his traumatic war experience.A Vietnam veteran helps his kids battle over a tree house while recovering from his traumatic war experience.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 3 nominations
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe cigarettes Elvadine smokes in the movie are herbal, not tobacco.
- GoofsThe Lipnicki gang dries off too quickly after exiting the lake at the quarry.
- Quotes
[Elvadine was falsely accused of interrupting the teacher]
Elvadine: Alright, I'll tell you. I was sayin' "Elvadine, what's YOU gots to write about? Been in the sixth grade your whole good-for-nuthin' life. Ain't GOT no daddy. Never goes anywhere but where your feets take you. Onliest money that ever belong to you in the whole world was twenty dollars you gots yourself in a birthday card, from your uncle last year." But it really wasn't for my birthday. Really, it was for layin' over his lap and letting him spank me with my underpants down. And now here you come along, shovin' me in the back of the room, where I can't even see too good, which means I'm prob'ly not gonna graduate this summer neither, Just 'cuz you read how some white man say Life be like a bowlful o' cherries, I've gotsta come up with some big hit sayin' Well, fine. I'll just write down how happy I'm gonna be to get 20 more dollars on my birthday. Never mind what he's got planned for me THIS year. And I'm gonna write, how maybe the new man my momma been seein' might stop drinkin', and treat me nice, and maybe he's gonna adopt me, and take us off the welfare. And at the end, I'm gonna be sure put:
[sarcastically]
Elvadine: 'Life Sure is a bowl full of Cherries.'
[back to normal]
Elvadine: But to tell you the truth, Miss Strapford, I think you, and that book, and this whole class, be a bowl full of shit!
- Crazy creditsWhen the credits are over and the music ends, we hear a helicopter.
- SoundtracksWho'll Stop The Rain
Written by John Fogerty (as John C. Fogarty)
Performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Courtesy of Fantasy, Inc.
Everything is done well. The children actors, led by Elijah Wood, do a really good job. Elijah was especially wonderful with the emotional out bursts he has to produce. Kevin Costner was surprisingly understated as the father and Mare Winningham is very good as the mother. I wish it was a bigger part. The part of the school teacher comes off a bit stereotypical but it works okay. Again, the kids carry the scene with their show of pride and willingness to stand by each other in adversity.
All in all, it's a good movie and good for older children to watch even though there is some strong language and violence. Actually, I think it's a bit mild for its PG-13 rating.
***1/2 out of ****
- callaspadeaspade
- Sep 17, 2001
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Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $16,928,556
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $5,203,275
- Nov 6, 1994
- Gross worldwide
- $16,928,556
- Runtime2 hours 6 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1