Thumbsucker (2005)

(Spoilers) Even as a teenager, he still sucks his thumb. His parents are concerned. They are the type who has their sons call them by name instead of "mom" and "dad" -- don't want to feel old. His dentist tries hypnosis on him, he won't be able to suck his thumb anymore, it works, he feels awful, he plots revenge on the dentist. The school diagnoses him with Attention Deficit Syndrome; he goes on Ritalin, he is transformed, now he is the leader of the debate team. His teacher thinks he has turned into a monster, his girlfriend distances herself from him. He is not happy, quits the medication, looks his ex up, they do drugs and sexual games. He falls in love, she was just experimenting. He thinks his mom is having an affair with a patient, it was paranoia. He gets accepted by New York University, his grades were below their average, he told them his parents were mentally ill. His dentist has reconsidered his life and his values, there is nothing wrong with thumbsucking.

The text has some satirical potential regarding the "modern" family and the American values, yet it seems that the option here was for a straightforward coming-of-age tale. I think the result was excessively bland.

Rating: 44