Normal **½ (2003, Tom Wilkinson, Jessica Lange, Hayden Panettiere, Clancy Brown) – Classic Movie Review 5130

Writer-director Jane Anderson’s nice spirited, if uncomfortable and not entirely successful 2003 drama is set around the lives of a married couple, Roy and Irma (Tom Wilkinson, Jessica Lange), in a church-going, Middle America community. Roy sets the cat among the pigeons when he announces that he wants to become a woman and have a sex change operation.

Excellent though the performers are, the strain of trying to make this work – and make it fresh and revealing – is all too evident. But, nevertheless, Anderson’s well-meaning script, based on her play Looking for Normal, does have its touching and subtle moments. And its warm heart and good nature are outstanding.

Also in the cast are Richard Bull and Mary Seibel (as Roy’s father and mother), Hayden Panettiere, Clancy Brown, Joe Sikora, Randall Arney, Rick Touhy and Rich Komenich.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5130

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