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The World According To Garp Details

1982 Certificate 15
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 627 members

Based on the John Irving novel, this film chronicles the life of T S Garp, and his mother, Jenny. Read more

Starring Robin Williams, Mary Beth Hurt, Glenn Close, John Lithgow
Director George Roy Hill
Genres Comedy, Drama

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The World According To Garp

Based on the John Irving novel, this film chronicles the life of T S Garp, and his mother, Jenny.

Starring Robin Williams, Mary Beth Hurt, Glenn Close, John Lithgow, Hume Cronyn
Director George Roy Hill
Studio WARNER HOME VIDEO
Run time DVD: 2 hrs 11 mins
Certificate Certificate 15
Genres Comedy, Drama
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: not available
Production year: 1982
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (3) of The World According To Garp

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  • 3 stars out of 5

    This magical mystery tour of a New England writer's life — based on John Irving's sprawling and virtually unfilmable satirical novel — involves the mind but never engages the heart. The result is an uneasily structured exercise in pointlessness that's best viewed as a kind of up-market Forrest Gump. Robin Williams stars as Garp, a writer married to Mary Beth Hurt, who's forever at the mercy of lethal modern contraptions such as motorcars and aeroplanes, and overshadowed by his domineering mum (brilliantly played by Glenn Close in her feature debut). Director George Roy Hill contrives some felicitous moments — notably John Lithgow as a transsexual ex-footballer — and introduces topical themes such as celebrity and feminism, but felicity doesn't resolve into clarity despite good intentions. Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy (as Close's parents) are always a pleasure to watch, and both Close and Lithgow were nominated for Oscars.

    • Radio Times
  • 1 stars out of 4

    Unlikely and uneasy film version of a somewhat cerebral novel; any drama there might have been in the original got lost in the transition, but at least the intention is to be applauded.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • Most helpful member's review of The World According To Garp

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  • 12 out of 12 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Quirky Human Relationships

    Robin Williams is T.S.Garp. The TS comes from the father he never knew, we are informed by his mother (Glenn Close) during the film. His mother is a radical feminist nurse surrounded by disfunctional people including a trans-sexual ex-american footballer. The film follows Garp through his life examining his relationships with people especially his mother, wife & children. It is a good chuckle along the way with the odd scenes that get you laughing from the belly (the car crash on the drive scene), and a few emotional ones to bring you down to Earth with a bump. It's quite a long film, but hooks you in and you don't get bored. In my opinion, for what it's worth, one of Williams' finest films mainly because he plays it straight. A Film with a similar flavour is 'My Life As A Dog'.

      • Gary from Lancaster
  • Most recent members' review of The World According To Garp

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  • Rated - 5 stars

    excellent

    This is an excellent and accurate depiction of Irving's novel. Robin Williams captures the innocence and gentleness of Garp. It's a really enjoyable film that deals with some serious issues. Watch it, you'll love it

      • A customer from Birmingham
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Rating breakdown

627 Member ratings
  • 100
67
  • 90
63
  • 80
123
  • 70
124
  • 60
106
  • 50
59
  • 40
35
  • 30
22
  • 20
19
  • 10
9

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