Themes: Saintly Fools, Looking For Love, Mothers and Daughters
Main Cast: Juliette Lewis, Diane Keaton, Tom Skerritt, Giovanni Ribisi, Poppy Montgomery
Release Year: 1999
Country: US
Run Time: 129 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
Twenty-two year old Carla Tate (Juliette Lewis) is a slightly mentally challenged young woman who has spent several years at a sheltered private boarding school. Now she's coming home to her wealthy parents in northern California who are emotionally ill-equipped to deal with her and are guilt ridden over sending her away in the first place. The biggest limitation Carla must now overcome is her overprotective mother Elizabeth (Diane Keaton). When she takes a class at a trade school, Carla soon meets the equally challenged Daniel (Giovanni Ribisi). Despite his limitations, he maintains a job in a bakery and lives alone. Carla dares to dream of independence and love despite her mother who refuses to view her as an adult. When Daniel fails his class, his father cuts off his funds. Facing a move to Florida to live with his mother, the two turn to each other and find a way to stay together to face a world of adult opportunities and responsibilities. ~ Ron Wells, All Movie Guide
Clayton R. Hartley - Art Director, Gretchen Rennell Court - Casting, Ellen H. Schwartz - Co-producer, Gary Jones - Costume Designer, Ellen H. Schwartz - First Assistant Director, Garry Marshall - Director, Bruce Green - Editor, David Hoberman - Executive Producer, Rachel Portman - Composer (Music Score), Kathy Nelson - Musical Direction/Supervision, Sidney James - Musical Direction/Supervision, Stephen Lineweaver - Production Designer, Dante Spinotti - Cinematographer, Alex Rose - Producer, Mario Iscovich - Producer, Jay R. Hart - Set Designer, Todd Toon - Sound/Sound Designer, Garry Marshall - Screenwriter, Bob Brunner - Screenwriter
After graduating from a special education school, a young woman with intellectual disabilities named Carla Tate falls in love with a young man named Daniel McMahon who is also disabled and is attending a polytechnic school. But she must try to escape the intentions of her wealthy, overprotective mother Elizabeth Tate who tries to force her into tennis, high culture, radical change of décor in her bedroom, matronly clothing, and other pursuits.
At a social event, Daniel drinks too much and ends up grabbing the microphone and telling everyone at the party about their first time having sexual intercourse, causing Carla to burst into tears. Daniel is banished from the young girl's life. Carla realizes how much she is still in love with Danny, as he does. At Carla's sister's wedding, Danny surprises Carla by showing up and asking Carla to marry him.
Everyone supports their wishes except for Carla's mother who is unsure that this is the right thing to do. Carla's mother has always been uneasy about Carla doing many things due to her exceptionality. Carla gets angry with her mom and tells her that she is sick of her trying to tell her (Carla) what to do. Carla's sister in turn gets angry at her as well as she tells her mother that she should quit treating Carla as a source of shame. Carla's mother has a change of heart and she shows up at the wedding anyway and in the end supports Carla's decisions and decides to no longer act as if she is ashamed of Carla.
