--- title: "The Cider House Rules: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-cider-house-rules/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-cider-house-rules" critics_score: 62 critics_reviews: 9 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Cider House Rules (1999): what the critics said Critics' score 62 from 9 reviews: 4 positive, 3 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics are warmly disposed, if not unreserved. The praise gathers on the cast and above all on Michael Caine’s ether-addicted Dr Larch, named again and again as the reason to watch; Tobey Maguire, Charlize Theron and Delroy Lindo get their mentions too. Several reviewers call it the most successful screen version of Irving yet, and the New England locations and Hallström’s gentle, old-fashioned manner are admired for their simple integrity. The reservations settle on shape and tone. Even admirers note the film wants more dramatic muscle, that the romantic middle section drifts, and that as a story it arrives nowhere in particular. The spread is wide: the two outright dissenters, Sight and Sound and The Guardian, find the gentleness closer to blandness and the sentiment glutinous, arguing that abortion, race and incest are handled so tearfully as to become incoherent. Nobody calls it ugly or dull to look at; the argument is whether it adds up. ## Radio Times — Neil Smith Rating 5/5. The film is a rich, evocative period piece with simple integrity that makes the most of its New England locations. Michael Caine's scene-stealing performance as the ether-addicted Dr Larch stands out. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-kkx7ck/the-cider-house-rules/) ## The New York Times — Stephen Holden Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 10 December 1999. Hallström's lovely adaptation is the finest film realization of an Irving novel, a gentle fable about a young man's journey, loss of innocence and earned wisdom. [Read the review](https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/film/121099cider-film-review.html) ## Variety — David Rooney Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 1999. Festival review. A touching, old-fashioned charmer that ultimately satisfies despite needing more dramatic muscle, with strong performances from Maguire and Caine. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1999/film/reviews/the-cider-house-rules-2-1117752086/) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 6 December 1999. The movie has charm in its inconsequential moments and a keen eye for the happily adrift, but as a meditation on growing up it loses its grip, with adult performances standing out most. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1999/12/13/stagestruck) ## Time Out — TCh Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). Hallström's adaptation is the most successful screen version of Irving yet, though still problematic. It succeeds best in the first and last acts and a strong supporting turn from Delroy Lindo, while the romantic middle section feels less engaging. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-cider-house-rules) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 17 December 1999. The film is absorbing in parts with strong turns from Michael Caine and Charlize Theron, but unfocused overall and arrives nowhere in particular as a story. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-cider-house-rules-1999) ## Sight and Sound — Peter Matthews Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds the film a mismatched blend of sentimental schmaltz and liberal messaging that fails to cohere into a compelling drama. Hallström's delicate touch undercuts the source material's showmanship, resulting in blandness. [Read the review](http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/528) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 17 March 2000. The film is a glutinous sentimental drama about incest, race and abortion that renders its themes incoherent through excessive tearfulness and self-regarding emoting. The critic singles out the manipulative sentimentality and pseudo-issues as the main flaws in this odd, feelgood but creepy adaptation. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/mar/17/culture.reviews1) ## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 19 January 2001. The film is an emotionally rich coming-of-age story that avoids cliché through understatement and strong character work. The critic singles out the exquisite performances, especially Michael Caine as the compassionate Dr. Larch and Tobey Maguire as the observant Homer. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-cider-house-rules-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-cider-house-rules.md