Cider House Rules, The

Aroview: Hard-to-fault adaptation of John Irving's novel set in middle America during WW2 is an old-fashioned rural melodrama bathed in sheer craft by the director of MY LIFE AS A DOG and WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE.

Reared at the orphanage and 'clinic' by his unorthodox guardian (Michael Caine), Tobey Maguire finds his endeavour into the big wide world going no further than an orchard farm where he falls for war-bride Charlize Theron. In satisfyingly turning over literary cliches, what might easily be rather floury is instead as polished and crisp as a ripe Granny Smith.

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