North (film)

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North
Image:Northposter.jpg Promotional poster
Directed by	Rob Reiner
Produced by	Rob Reiner Alan Zweibel
Written by	Alan Zweibel Andrew Scheinman
Starring	Elijah Wood Jason Alexander Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Music by	Marc Shaiman
Cinematography	Adam Greenberg
Editing by	Robert Leighton
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures Castle Rock
Release date(s)	July 22 1994
Running time	87 min.
Country	Image:Flag of the United States.svg
Language	English
Budget	$40,000,000
IMDb profile

North is a 1994 motion picture directed by Rob Reiner, and starring Elijah Wood, Bruce Willis, Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Dan Aykroyd and Reba McEntire. The story is based on the novel North by Alan Zweibel, who also wrote the screenplay and has a minor role in the film.

North received generally negative reviews, and flopped at the box office, earning about US$7 million for an estimated budget of US$40 million [1]; the film was a multiple nominee at the 1994 Golden Raspberry Awards.

Film critic Roger Ebert seemed especially baffled by North, noting that Wood and especially Reiner had both previously made much better films. Ebert awarded North a rare "zero-stars" rating, and even ten years later it remains on his list of most hated films. His review included the now-famous statement:

"I hated this movie. Hated hated hated hated hated this movie. Hated it. Hated every simpering stupid vacant audience-insulting moment of it. Hated the sensibility that thought anyone would like it. Hated the implied insult to the audience by its belief that anyone would be entertained by it."

An abridged version of the review became the title of a 2000 compilation of some of Ebert's negative reviews. Other critics have shown their dislike for the film, including the late Gene Siskel, who called it the worst film of the year.

[edit] Plot

An 11-year-old boy named North (Elijah Wood) tires of his parents (Jason Alexander and Julia Louis-Dreyfus), who never pay any attention to him, legally emancipates himself from them, and wanders around the world seeking a new family. Along the way, he encounters parents that are tribal, southern, Alaskan, Hawaiian, Jewish, etc. He tries to blend in with each group of parents. He finally decides that his own parents are the best with the help of the Narrator's various incarnations.

[edit] Cast

Elijah Wood as North
Jason Alexander as North's Dad
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as North's Mom
Marc Shaiman as Piano Player
Bruce Willis as Narrator
Jon Lovitz as Arthur Belt
Alan Arkin as Judge Buckle
Dan Aykroyd as Pa Tex
Reba McEntire as Ma Tex
Graham Greene as Alaskan Dad
Kathy Bates as Alaskan Mom
Ben Stein as Curator
Alexander Godunov as Amish Dad
Kelly McGillis as Amish Mom
Faith Ford as Donna Nelson
John Ritter as Ward Nelson
Scarlett Johansson as Laura Nelson
Jesse Zeigler as Bud Nelson

[edit] External links

North at the Internet Movie Database

v • d • e Films directed by Rob Reiner
This Is Spınal Tap (1984) · The Sure Thing (1985) · Stand by Me (1986) · The Princess Bride (1987) · When Harry Met Sally... (1989) · Misery (1990) · A Few Good Men (1992) · North (1994) · The American President (1995) · Ghosts of Mississippi (1996) · The Story of Us (1999) · Alex & Emma (2003) · Rumor Has It... (2005) · The Bucket List (2007)