Skipped Parts (1999)

A gentle, oddly idealistic script and assured performances by a strong ensemble cast make this coming-of-age tale a standout. Skipped Parts is the story of Sam, a young would-be writer, and his free-spirited mother. Shipped off to the wilds of Wyoming by his embarrassed politician-grandfather, Sam (Bug Hall) and his mother Lydia (Jennifer Jason Leigh, clearly enjoying herself) get down to the business of getting to know and shocking the locals. Sam meets kindred spirit Maurey (Mischa Barton), and the two, though only 14, begin to experiment with sex--the "skipped parts" of the novels they've been reading. Hall and Barton give astonishingly good performances for such young actors--Barton in particular shows a poise that bodes well for her continued career. The script isn't perfect, but it is earnest and affectionate toward its characters, and that goes a long way. Watch for Drew Barrymore, who joins in the fun for a few quietly silly moments as Sam's dream girl. --Ali Davis Amazon.com

Perfectly watchable, but the book is better

This was a fairly entertaining film. No real flaws or failures to it. The cast was all-around good, particularly Bug Hall. Brad Renfro and Drew Barrymore were fine, though I can't for the life of me figure out why she was in the movie. Probably just to get butts into seats would be my guess.

The storyline is kept mostly intact from the book, though for the life of me I can't understand why they aged the kids from thirteen to fourteen. What, fourteen-year-old kids having sex and getting pregnant is notably more acceptable than the same thing with thirteen-year-olds?

Still, the movie is largely forgetable. I enjoyed it while watching it, but I have no real drive to see it again. It was entertaining and all, but nothing great.

Some reviewers have a problem with people comparing this movie to the book Skipped Parts: A Novel. Well, I can understand that. They are, after all, two different mediums. But to an extent I think compairison is justified and in this case, the movie falls short. Not by a wide margin, but short nevertheless. July 6, 2008

Forget the Book!

Why do people insist on comparing movies with books? Do they compare music with paintings? Sculpture with poetry? Of course not. And movies should not be compared with books, either. They are two different mediums, with entirely different modes of personal interaction. The act of reading a book is completely different from that of watching a movie. So the minute you read a review that compares a book with a movie, run! Any such comparision is irrelevant, even if a movie is based on a book (or vice versa).

That said, this is a startling and surprising movie. It is well-acted, and tells a compelling story. It is easy to follow, the plot moves along well, and the characters are interesting enough to make you care about them.

So don't worry if you read the book or not, the movie stands on it's own as a worthy film. October 24, 2005

A Sizeable Disappointment

Like most people who made the effort to see this movie, I read Tim Sandlin's book and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Unfortunately for this movie, Sandlin is a far better novelist than screenwriter.
The film is disjointed, awkward, and hard to follow. It quickly hops from one important moment of the book to another, allowing almost no time to understand the characters and their motivations or appreciate the bizarre circumstances of the story.
The casting isn't bad-- a prepubescent Mischa Barton was a fine choice (a hysterical one for fans of the O.C.), and Jennifer Jason Leigh is also respectable, although she doesn't fit her character's physical description-- but that doesn't nearly make up for the film's jumpy direction and half-baked plot.
In sum, this is a dissatisfying and substandard film. Undoubtedly, the subject matter is better suited for a novel, and Sandlin's humor and talents are better utilized there.
Read his books. Avoid this movie. September 16, 2005

Suprisingly Good

I saw this movie on the Women's channel Oxygen, which of course deletes certain parts concerning sex or anything like that. I thought it was "good", not "great", but not "bad". Mischa Barton and Bug Hall...what an interesting combination eh? I would buy it, it was good, I would watch it if it were a rainy day though. February 21, 2005

"Here's rule number one - you better not squirt."

"Skipped Parts" takes place in 1963. It is narrated by Sam (Bug Hall), a seventh-grader, and aspiring writer. He doesn't know who his father is because his mother, Lydia (Jennifer Jason Leigh) is a promiscuous lush. Sam's Grandfather sends them away, with his financial support, so he won't be embarrassed by her when he runs for Governor of South Carolina.

They end up in Wyoming, where Sam meets Maurey (Mischa Barton) during a school baseball game. They argue about Mark Twain in class. Shortly after, Maurey and her mom (Peggy Lipton) do a neighborly visit - the Welcome Wagon. Lydia is embarrassingly rude to them. Later, Sam tells his mom he thinks he's in love with Maurey cuz he can't stand her. Sam gets teased and hassled by girls in school, and also by Maurey's boyfriend, Dothan (Brad Renfro). On November 22, 1963, Kennedy is shot. Maurey is very upset and cries, and Sam consoles her. Dothan makes some racist remarks, and Maurey and Sam go to her house. In another fantasy, Sam kisses Maurey's mom. He has a resulting nocturnal emission and shows his mom. Later, Sam tells Maurey about it at the soda shop, and she talks to a waitress about sex. Maurey later shows up to "make sex" with Sam as a learning experience. They try but fail in a funny scene. Later, Lydia gives them a sex talk and advice. Maurey inevitably gets pregnant, and after some initial reluctance, Sam seems happy as a father.

The movie is well-acted by all. There is quite a bit of humor, too. The movie is R-Rated for language, which includes frank sexual talk, and sexual content. However, the sex scenes involving Sam and Maurey are tame and mostly set up by the dialog, which is quite funny. This is probably Mischa's best movie after "Lawn Dogs". Drew Barrymore has a small part in Sam's fantasies.

The movie only skims the book, which has more sex-related and bodypart-related dialog.

The DVD has a good commentary by director Tamra Davis, and a trailer. June 7, 2004

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