Stars: Johnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson, Aidan Quinn, Julianne Moore, Oliver Platt, Dan Hedaya, William H. Macy

Director: Jeremiah S. Chechik

Summary: A young, intelligent, but unbalanced woman is looked after by her brother, that is until she meets Sam.

Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson), a mentally disturbed young woman, lives with her older (and over-protective) brother, Benny (Aidan Quinn). He puts up with the untenable situation because of his love for her and his dislike of institutions. Just when their relationship reaches a point where things have to change, the soft-spoken, silent film-obsessed Sam (Johnny Depp) enters their lives and slowly begins a romance with the fragile Joon. His love proves to be just the therapy she needs--and it finally gives the reclusive Benny, who hasn't even been able to commit to a second date, the chance to start a romance of his own.

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Longing for a romantic Hollywood film that will make your heart leap but not have you reaching for the sick bucket? Try Benny &Joon. Few mainstream US films manage to walk the thin line between emotion and schmaltz, but here is one film that pulls it off admirably. In the wrong hands the concept of marrying love and mental illness could have been a disaster but, as with the low-budget British film Some Voices, Benny &Joonmanages to extract genuine humour and warmth from the subject. As the brother and sister of the title, the relationship between Aidan Quinn and Mary Stuart Masterson is central to the story, Benny desperately trying to keep home and job together while looking after the sick Joon. Their lives take an unexpected turn with the arrival of Sam, a brilliantly comic turn by Johnny Depp, as gradually the characters learn that the happiness that all thought beyond them is within their grasp. Depp adds yet another character to his liturgy of slightly odd outsiders but plays it with such panache, this time drawing heavily on Buster Keaton, that you cannot help but fall for him. Indeed, there is not a single character here that you would not wish well.

On the DVD:The usual scene selection and a very clear audio track, given the film's musical moments a huge boost. Few will probably be able to resist The Proclaimers' "(I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles" which opens the film. Excellent picture quality too. --Phil Udell

Aspect Ratio:	1.85 Wide Screen, 16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Original Theatrical Trailer, Interactive Menu Screens, Chapter Selections
Subtitles:	Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish
Year:	1993
Release Date:	July 23, 2001
Runtime:	94 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	15783 D V D
Keywords:	Comedy, Benny, General, Wide, Screen, Romantic, Joon
Genre:	Comedy