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Summary

Gilbert Grape is a small-town young man with a lot of responsibility. Chief among his concerns are his mother, who is so overweight that she can't leave the house, and his mentally impaired younger brother, Arnie, who has a knack for finding trouble. Settled into a job at a grocery store and an ongoing affair with local woman Betty Carver, Gilbert finally has his life shaken up by the free-spirited Becky.

Cast

Johnny Depp

Gilbert Grape

Juliette Lewis

Becky

Leonardo DiCaprio

Arnie Grape

Mary Steenburgen

Betty Carver

Darlene Cates

Bonnie Grape

Laura Harrington

Amy Grape

Mary Kate Schellhardt

Ellen Grape

Kevin Tighe

Ken Carver

John C. Reilly

Tucker Van Dyke

Crispin Glover

Bobby McBurney

Penelope Branning

Becky's Grandma

Tim Green

Mr. Lamson

Susan Loughran

Mrs. Lamson

Robert B. Hedges

Minister

Mark Jordan

Todd Carver

Cameron Finley

Doug Carver

Brady Coleman

Sheriff Jerry Farrel

Tim Simek

Deputy

Nicholas Stojanovich

Boy #1

Libby Villari

Waitress

Kay Bower

Police Secretary

Joe Stevens

Burger Barn Manager

Mona Lee Fultz

Bakery Worker

George Haynes

Dave

Daniel Gullahorn

Boy #2

David H. Kramer

Group (voice)

Brent Bratton

Burger Barn Employee (uncredited)

Kirk Hunter

Townfolk (uncredited)

Buck Reynolds

Juvenile Heckler (uncredited)

David Stanford

Townsperson (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Lasse Hallström

Novel, Screenplay

Peter Hedges

Reviews

narrator56

December 11, 2021

7

I recently watched this movie again after many years, and was surprised how many details I had forgotten. It features a great ensemble cast who seem to mostly share a screen rapport. Leonardo DiCaprio previews his future star career with a stellar performance as the difficult Arnie.

I thought the scene where husband Mr. Carver comes home from work and obsesses over the burnt cookies and the unused swimming pool was silly and a bad fit for the film, especially consider what came after the scene. Meanwhile the two sisters were great characters: they were emotional when the situation called for it, but gave an even and restrained performance. I would have like to have seen more of them.