Cover = good. Movie = bad.

Rating: Null/10 (1 August 2002)

I would only ever watch this movie again to hear the Smurf conversation.
Sure, the rabbit (Frank) is creepy. And yes, Jake Gyllenhaal is both surprising and intriguing as Donnie. Unfortunately, both the story and directing are crap.
(Spoiler) This bothers me (among other things): Donnie was played out as a horny boy who kind of ended up in his relationship with Gretchen, and basically just wanted to get in her pants. But then, he suddenly feels that going back in time and dying is worth saving her? Yeah, okay. He was troubled and horny. They should've just left it at that.

Blaming coincidences in the end of this movie is almost like Star Wars blaming every unexplainable event on `the force'. I understand that not everything is explainable both in life and movies, but come on people. In the end Gretchen waves at his mom?!? They never even interacted in the first part of the movie. Seriously, it's not artsy, it's mindless.
I like movies with a good story, or at least a good message. Therefore, I DO NOT like this movie. Devine intervention, unlike what the director states, is totally unrelated to the actual story. Rent the DVD and listen to the commentary. Richard Kelly can't even explain most of it.
I'll admit, the cover is cool.