Ummmm...

Rating: Null/10 (21 February 2004)

I just spent two hours waiting for the moment in the movie where everything comes together and all makes sense. Tragically, this didn't happen and I finished Donnie Darko wishing that I could also travel in time and get my two hours back. The smaller elements of the movie, suburban private schools and their obscure teaching models as well as the dangers of local celebrity were interesting. The primary focus of this movie really boiled down to two possibilities: Donnie Darko is either crazy or he isn't. When the movie finally got around to showing what it thought was true, my patience had ended. It was neat that both Gyllenhaal kids together; nothing I've seen so far recommends Maggie to me as an actress to watch.
Like Catcher in the Rye, the story of Donnie Darko will appeal to the darker sensibilties of the American teenager. However, it didn't ring true to me and just reminded me of why it's such a bad idea to over-medicate your kids. As a side point, if I ever spoke to my mother like Donnie did to his mother, she would have slapped the teeth out of my head.