Benny & Joon

The silver screen is no stranger to stories about quirky, lonely young souls falling in love. Alienated from the rest of society, these eccentric characters end up bonding over the very traits that made them outcasts in the first place. 'Benny & Joon,' a 1993 romantic dramedy, is a perfect example of such a story. Filled with charming performances and an occasional spark of whimsy, this is a sweet and enjoyable film. Unfortunately, it's held back by some predictable plot developments and conventional cinematic choices.

The story follows Benny (Aidan Quinn) a mechanic, and his mentally unstable sister, Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson). Unable to live by herself, Joon is taken care of by her brother, who sacrifices a personal life of his own in the process. When an eccentric young man named Sam (Johnny Depp) enters the picture, Joon finds a potential kindred spirit, but it might all be dashed away by Benny's desire to put her in a group home. The story itself is sweet with a nice mixture of comedy and drama. There is a fanciful quality to Joon and Sam's romance that stems from their unusual behavior and unique way of looking at the world. The performances from Masterson and Depp are both exceptional. Masterson in particular realizes a potentially tricky character with depth and charm. Depp's Sam is a joy to watch on screen as the dyslexic street performer exudes an awkward but infectious charisma. The scenes Joon and Sam share together are real highlights and demonstrate strong chemistry. The relationship that forms between them and Benny is the core of the film, and how they change each other gives the narrative its emotional arc. Though this is all handled well, the script itself adheres to a disappointingly predictable three act structure, which strays toward convention rather than creativity. There are some great diversions along the way, with Depp's physical comedy antics channeling the likes of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin among them, but these moments aren't strong enough to elevate the straight forward plot and its shortcomings.

Director Jeremiah Chechik has employed a very naturalistic style with 'Benny & Joon' that is mostly fitting but is occasionally at odds with the story. The approach helps to ground the characters and create a realistic and timeless quality, but as a result, it also works to downplay the more unique and whimsical aspects of the script. Thankfully, this isn't always the case, and there are instances of imagination with camera movement and composition, which help to reinforce a fairy tale like aura. One image in particular, near the end of the film, featuring Johnny Depp's character outside a window, has an almost magical quality to it. These sparks of visual imagination show the potential for a more interesting and unique film that unfortunately will go unrealized. Though I understand why Chechik went with a restrained approach, and his reasoning does make sense, it still seems like a few more fanciful touches would have helped enhance the movie.

In the end, 'Benny & Joon' is a sweet and thoughtful film that is unfortunately stifled by predictable plotting and style. The film's blend of drama, humor, and whimsy is handled well, but given the quirks and eccentricities of its characters, it's surprisingly unimaginative. Certain scenes shine brighter than others, revealing the potential for something greater. Still, the performances are strong, with great chemistry between its leads, and the story certainly holds more depth than your average romantic comedy.