North is a 1994 comedy-drama film directed by Rob Reiner and starring a young Elijah Wood in the lead role. It follows the story of a boy named North who, dissatisfied with his parents, decides to divorce them and embark on a quest to find new parents. The film is known for its whimsical and fantastical approach to the concept of divorce and parental relationships.
Plot Summary:
Introduction:
North (Elijah Wood) is a bright and talented child with loving parents (played by Jason Alexander and Julia Louis-Dreyfus). However, he becomes discontented with his life, feeling unappreciated and burdened by his parents' expectations.
- The Divorce Quest:
North decides to seek legal emancipation from his parents and goes to court to file for divorce. The judge (Alan Arkin) grants his request, leading North on a quest to find new parents who will appreciate him more.
- Worldwide Search for New Parents:
North travels to various locations around the world, meeting prospective parents played by a star-studded cast, including Bruce Willis, Dan Aykroyd, Reba McEntire, and others. Each set of parents he encounters represents different cultural and societal stereotypes.
- Realization of Parental Love:
As North experiences life with different families, he begins to realize the importance of his original parents and the love they provided. He learns that every family has its quirks and challenges, but there is no perfect set of parents.
- Return to His Real Parents:
North returns home, recognizing the value of his original family. However, his parents are on the verge of divorcing, and North works to bring them back together. The film concludes with a renewed appreciation for the love and uniqueness of his real family.
Despite its star-studded cast and the talent involved in its production, North received mixed reviews upon its release and faced criticism for its unconventional and sometimes controversial take on the theme of divorce. Some found the film's premise and execution to be whimsical and humorous, while others found it problematic in its portrayal of cultural stereotypes.
Trailer
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Cast
- Elijah Wood as North
- Bruce Willis as Narrator and benevolent advisors (Easter Bunny, Gabby, Tourist, Sleigh Driver, - - - Joey Fingers, FedEx Driver)
- Jon Lovitz as Arthur Belt
- Matthew McCurley as Winchell
- Jason Alexander as North's Father
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus as North's Mother
- Alan Arkin as Judge Buckle
- Dan Aykroyd as Pa Tex
- Reba McEntire as Ma Tex
- Alexander Godunov as Amish Father
- Kelly McGillis as Amish Mother
- Graham Greene as Alaskan Father
- Kathy Bates as Alaskan Mother
- Abe Vigoda as Alaskan Grandfather
- Faith Ford as Donna Nelson
- John Ritter as Ward Nelson
- Scarlett Johansson as Laura Nelson
- Jesse Ziegler as Bud Nelson
- Keone Young as Governor Ho
- Lauren Tom as Mrs. Ho
- Ben Stein as Museum Curator
- Taylor Fry as Zoe
- Alana Austin as Hannah
- Jussie Smollett as Adam
- Robert Costanzo as Al
- Carmit Bachar as Cowgirl
- Rosalind Chao as Chinese Mother
- Alan Rachins as Defense Attorney
- Richard Belzer as Barker
- Marc Shaiman as Piano Player
- Alan Zweibel as Baseball Coach
Director: Rob Reiner
Writers: Alan Zweibel, Andrew Scheinman
Box Office Gross: $7,182,747
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Genre: Adventure Comedy Drama Family Fantasy
Release Date: July 22, 1994