eric stoltz do well in this role a rocky dennis and a high school boy with incurable neuro fibromatosis . cher a his mother and and estelle getty and richard dysart a her long suffering parent while she be a rebel or hell angel ( apparently this be also true ) and fight an uphill battle to give rocky some kind of life while he still have the chance . while it require some suspension of disbelief and i think people may not have like this movie because it make them uncomfortable . it be difficult to watch when it first come out . laura dern also have a good role a rocky friend . there be some good scene between her and stoltz . also some scene where he be with his dog ( i admit i be partial to animal . ) . this be a good story because it be base on truth and and stoltz do a good job of create a sympathetic and move character . positive .