Someone got carried away after watching an episode of "The Wonder Years."

Rating: 4/10 (28 December 2004)

It is amazing that this movie is held in such high regard considering its abundant mediocrity. It does have an engaging cast, but the story and writing are unbelievable or cliché. There is more authenticity in any episode of "The Wonder Years," which seems to have been a stimulus for the writer to scribe a high school teacher's soap opera set against the realism of the turbulent '60s. I would be astounded to find out that any part of this movie was based on anyone's actual experience as a teacher. As devoted as teachers may be to their thankless profession, the prospect of a teacher so removed and distant from his hearing impaired son is ludicrous. There is no believable explanation for this strained relationship. If Mr. Holland had a hang up because his son was deaf--guilt, anger, etc., the film makes no such connection.