The Cider House Rules ***1/2

Based on a novel by the same name by John Irving.

Homer Wells (Tobey Maguire), an orphan, has grown up in an orphanage in New England where Dr. Wilbur Larch (Michael Caine), the director of the orphanage has taught Homer how to attend to birthing mothers. Dr. Larch occasionally performs illegal, but safe abortions, to women in need, for all the right reasons, but Homer refuses to do them. One day a soldier (Paul Rudd) and his fiance (Charlize Theron) arrive at the orphanage and everything changes.

The story is compelling, the acting is good and the movie, though not perfect, is quite good. It grapples with abortion, love, and personal choices, among other things. I can't put my finger on why it didn't grab me with a greater force. Close to being really good, but short of being a winner. Nevertheless, it's certainly worth watching.