OUT OF MY MIND (2024)

Though hardly shy on the predigested dramatic components that plagued After-School Specials of year’s past, this adaptation of Sharon M. Draper’s novel about a sixth-grader with Cerebral Palsy (wheelchair-bound; iffy muscle control; nonverbal) is largely effective, touching and blissfully free of worthiness.  The narrative moving forward on two parallel tracks as real-life CP lead Phoebe-Rae Taylor ('speaking' with the imagined voice of Jennifer Aniston) leaves her unchallenging Special Ed program to ‘mainstream’ once a week in a ‘regular’ sixth-grade classroom with natural peers; then dares herself to try and win a spot as one of her school’s Whiz Kids and compete for the State Championship on a televised event.  Winner goes on the Nationals in D.C.  And while most dramatic turns can be seen coming (there’s even a race to the finish line), a neat touch shows up when her success adversely affects the one friend she’s made in her new school.  Well handled by cast & crew, though on this kind of film, with so many formulaic elements, the real creative force isn't necessarily the director (Amber Sealey), but often a hands-on producer.  But how to award credit when there are TWELVE of them?  Regardless, the essence of the film can be seen in its strongest scene, driven by the film’s strongest perf, when Taylor gets a fancy, very costly speech-assist device and for the first time in her life is able to verbally welcome ‘Daddy’ home .  That’s busy journeyman actor Luke Kirby* taking over the film for the moment as he quietly breaks down hearing his daughter ‘speak’ for the first time.*  You may, too.

SCREWY THOUGHT OF THE DAY:  *Kirby earns instant empathy even with lots of competition surrounding him.  Hard to see why he doesn’t have a higher profile.  Too much the chameleon?  He won an EMMY playing Lenny Bruce on THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL  (not seen here).  Or is it that he looks a bit like too many other better known, more established actors?

DOUBLE-BILL:  *When the equivalent moment comes to Helen Keller in THE MIRACLE WORKER/’62 (it’s when deaf-blind Helen verbalizes ‘Wa-wa’ and we know her teacher has finally reached her intellectually), it’s the climax of the story.  Here, verbalization is more teeing-off point for ginned up dramatic moments & competition at school.