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Editorial Review:
Amazon.com:
This is the movie that Leonardo DiCaprio received an Oscar nomination for, five years before Titanic. And, in fact, this is the movie that should have made him a star, he's so good in it. Based on the novel by Peter Hedges (who adapted his own book) and directed by Lasse Hallström (My Life as a Dog), this is the funny, moody tale of a young man named Gilbert Grape (Johnny Depp) who lives at home in a small town with his 500-pound Momma (beautifully played by nonpro Darlene Cates), his mentally retarded younger brother Arnie (DiCaprio, utterly convincing), and his sisters. Not a lot happens--Arnie keeps climbing a water tower and getting stuck; Gilbert is involved with a married woman (Mary Steenburgen), then meets a nice new girl in town who's closer to his age (Juliette Lewis). And that's exactly what makes this movie so much more than your run-of-the-mill Hollywood product: it's not about some mechanical, formulaic plot; it's about these characters, and it allows you to spend some time with them and get to know them. Depp may have started out as a TV teen idol on 21 Jump Street, but his feature film choices since then--in such wonderfully offbeat and diverse movies as Cry-Baby, Edward Scissorhands, Benny & Joon, Donnie Brasco--have made him one of the most interesting, unpredictable, and risk-taking young actors in American movies. --Jim Emerson
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Great movie
Leonardo Dicaprio's performance as an autistic teenager was absolutely superb. Johnny Depp's performance as a quiet, depressed and angst-ridden older brother was good as well, although he's more fun to look at than anything.:) The movie is very moving, and unlike anything I've seen. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to people of all ages.
Rating: - What is Eating Mr. Grape ??
I recently saw an episode of the Fox cartoon "American Dad!" that has a parody of WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE using squirrels. It's one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Well, so I felt at the time. That's what brought to my attention this great movie that I enjoyed all those years ago back in the 90s and several times since. A memory I have from back then is while hanging out telling a friend "his mom is eating him" and my friend just looking at me and his eyes widening like he just heard something ... Read More
Rating: - OFFBEAT AND ORIGINAL!
Here's a film that didn't do well in theaters, but is a fine example of good filmmaking. This offbeat story is filled with colorful characters and many great performances. Johnny Depp in a complex role delivers a subtle performance, Dicaprio is equally as good as his retarded younger brother and Juliette Lewis is wonderful as a free spirited traveler who enters their lives. The DVD has a very good transfer and a few interesting extras including commentary, making of etc.
Rating: - What Isn't Eating Poor Depp?
This is a snappy title, but perhaps it should be called "What Isn't Eating Gilbert Grape?" Gilbert (Johnny Depp) feels trapped: his younger brother, a high maintenance problem is mentally challenged (in a brilliant acting job by Leonardo Di Caprio), his mother is reclusive and grossly overweight at 500 pounds, he's in a deadend job in a small grocery store trying to compete with a giant supermarket, he's fooling around with a married woman (beautifully played by Mary Steenburger), and he's stuck ... Read More
Rating: - Always like seeing Depp
Depp did a great job here trying to keep his family going day by day;adding DiCaprio was brilliant.Seeing these two together in their early days was entertaining.The story flows nicely to keep your attention.It definitely is a movie you watch more than once.J.R.Christine(Judy)-Michigan
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