Smile
Lin resides in a world of quiet hardship in rural China, longing to live without fear or shame. Katie lives in a world of pampered ease in Malibu and strives for something new and challenging in her life. When these two worlds come together, through a charity called, "Doctor's Gift" (based on Operation Smile), their lives are forever changed. Smile is an uplifting story powerfully told and beautifully acted that will inspire your soul and warm your heart.
Member Reviews
Horrendous Acting, Abrupt Ending - BloodMoonGrrrl
While this movie did have a worthwhile (albeit abrupt) ending, the acting was absolutely horrendous. Notably bad was Linda Hamilton's performance, along with that of Beau Bridges as bickering parents. The subplot involving the teenage punk trying to pressure his girlfriend into having sex also detracted from much of the film. Very little time was spent on what would seem the most important aspect of the film, the benefits of Operation Smile, which occupied about the last five minutes of a very poorly enacted script. The viewer is left hanging at the end, while snapshots depict a seemingly unlikely outcome (are we supposed to assume the girl moves to America, gets a handsome boyfriend, and becomes a model?) I find it quite unfortunate that such a worthwhile charity is depicted by such an amateurish production.A film with good intentions - judith_in_ottawa
This film was filmed in two locations in mainland China and in California. It was interesting to see the two China locations, and the story was OK.
The charity the film describes is fabulous, and I wonder why it couldn't have been named in the film, which might have helped support it. I also would have liked *more* about the charity -- some examples of how the kids they showed turned out, say.
The film, the acting, the choices made in how to tell the story were OK but not great. And I found the ending frustrating. There were a series of pictures shown to wrap things up, and one of my major questions about what happened to two of the characters was unanswered, even when I watched the commentary. I found the movie ended too quickly and casually, without sufficent care, as if they were tired of making the movie, or ran out of money.
I also didn't like how the Chinese girl's deformity was only shown once, as if it were a terrible thing, rather than being present with us during much of the movie, as it was with the character. It's not a horror movie, with us face to face with a monster at a crucial moment; this is a person's natural face, a nice person's natural face, and she's not a monster.
So, I found things to like, but I also found the film frustrating, over-cautious, and superficial.Not Bad - sweetness1
This is not the kind of movie that I usually watch.I was happily surprised that I enjoyed it.The sacrifices that the father made for this little girl in a place where the lives of girls are not valued.The male in this movie having the feelings that you would expect the mother to have.
Member Reviews
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Horrendous Acting, Abrupt Ending - BloodMoonGrrrl
While this movie did have a worthwhile (albeit abrupt) ending, the acting was absolutely horrendous. Notably bad was Linda Hamilton's performance, along with that of Beau Bridges as bickering parents. The subplot involving the teenage punk trying to pressure ...A film with good intentions - judith_in_ottawa
This film was filmed in two locations in mainland China and in California. It was interesting to see the two China locations, and the story was OK.
The charity the film describes is fabulous, and I wonder why it couldn't have been named in the film, ...Not Bad - sweetness1
This is not the kind of movie that I usually watch.I was happily surprised that I enjoyed it.The sacrifices that the father made for this little girl in a place where the lives of girls are not valued.The male in this movie having the feelings that you would ...