i have be want to write a review of this movie for a long time because it make a major impression on me . although i hear that there be many difference between the real life rocky dennis and his movie counterpart and in spite of melodrama and some cloy touchy feely cuteness and mask often feel like real life and which can be both comfort and disturb and especially consider that real people can and do have the disease present in the movie ( with frighteningly realistic makeup ) . nevertheless and the movie really do go the extra mile . cher and eric stoltz give the impression that they actually become the character . i almost disbelieve it be them although i saw other movie of theirs . the character be three dimensional and the script be simply great and offset the heaviness of it subject matter with a surprisingly effective sense of humor . rocky´s problem and social and physical and otherwise and be present in a well balance context that never wallow in the problem but do not trivialize them either . in the end and it deliver the message that your problem be only as big a you make them as long a you never give up in pursue your goal . to be sure and laura dern here be a mousy and awkward a in most of her other movie and sam elliot be mostly just there to look cool but all in all and this movie deserve 9 star out of 10. it be sad on a macro level and cheerful on a micro level and and all around unforgettable .