“…one of those classic films that is so perfectly heart-warming and tear-jerking…”

Rewind over 20 years ago to when Johnny Depp was a mere 30 years old, only a few years after he donned the razor-sharp hands in Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands, and Leonardo DiCaprio was a spry 18-year-old, fresh from the TV series Growing Pains, but several years before he would become Jack in Titanic. Some 10 years before John C. Reilly would become a step brother and before Crispin Glover would tame rats in Willard, these now household name A-listers acted alongside each other in what is easily my favorite movie of all time. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (directed by Lasse Hallström, 1993) is one of those classic films that is so perfectly heart-warming and tear-jerking that after you find yourself both laughing and crying, you will still be left with a big smile on your face.

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape is a beautiful story with so much to say in a small town where seemingly nothing exciting ever happens. After the suicide of their father and husband, the Grape family struggles daily to keep themselves afloat, and it is Gilbert (played by Johnny Depp) who bears the brunt of that responsibility. With an obese mother named Bonnie but known simply as Mama (played by Darlene Cates), a snotty teenage sister named Ellen (played by Mary Kate Schellhardt), and a mentally challenged brother named Arnie (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), Gilbert is stuck being the rock that holds them all together. With the weight of that burden heavy upon his shoulders, it gets a bit heavier when a mysterious young woman named Becky (played by Juliette Lewis) winds up stranded in the small town when her grandmother’s truck breaks down. Becky brings about an intriguing sense of worldliness that begins to open Gilbert up to a new way of seeing the world, but at the same time, he feels trapped by the hopelessly small town and his highly-reliant family. Through laughter, heartbreak, and the everyday Podunk gossip, these characters change and grow into more than just their circumstance.

Despite taking place over two decades ago, the middle-of-no-where, small town atmosphere gives this film a timeless feel to it that makes it so easy to watch over and over again. It strips life down to the bare essentials, focusing on family and friends over all else. Everyone has or knows someone who has been touched by tragedy, and this story is easy to relate to in that regard. Love can be a life raft when someone feels like they are drowning, and this story does a beautiful job of painting a picture of internal struggle. While the majority of the cast has gone on to accomplish impressive acting careers, witnessing this diverse group of people come together and perfectly complement one another absolutely makes this film an understated classic.

Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio are no doubt masters of their crafts. Depp plays the martyred caretaker with solemn grace while DiCaprio’s portrayal of a mentally challenged boy about to turn 18 will have your heart twisting with every nervous tick and emotional meltdown. However, what I enjoyed most with a movie as complex as this is that Darlene Cates as Mama absolutely stole every scene she was in. Despite being in one place throughout the majority of the film, her strong presence and big heart shined through, and she truly becomes a character you go from pitying to respecting.

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape tackles major issues from the effects of a suicide on a family to caring for dependents with mental disabilities and extreme obesity. However, it manages to hold onto a playful tone that balances well with the serious moments. It’s just a story about people, and how we find our integrity through life’s hardships. Whenever I’m asked what my favorite movie of all time is, I don’t hesitate to name this film. While I have absolutely lost count of how many times I’ve seen it, I can easily land upon a perfect 10/10 rating. If you haven’t seen this movie, you are in for a treat.