Thumbsucker (2005)

When I view a movie about which I know little, I am always hopeful that it will turn out to be a delightful surprise.  I can't quite claim that for this teen angst/coming of age story, but it did have its merits.  Foremost of these was the lead actor -- the 17-year old thumbsucker of the title -- played by relative newcomer Lou Taylor Pucci; he was always believable as the confused youth looking to reconcile his life with his parents, his teachers, and with girls.  Keanu Reeves is a complete hoot as his hippy transcendental orthodontist who "cures" him of his infantile habit, but the young man is soon dependent on behaviour-controlling drugs to allow him to function without the comfort of his thumb.  Under their influence he becomes the star of the school debating team managed by teacher Vince Vaughn until he realises his addiction and goes cold turkey.  In the meantime he suspects that his mother, Tilda Swinton -- a nurse -- is having an affair with a TV personality under her care in rehab and finds it near impossible to relate to his dour dad, a frustrated would-be pro footballer played by Vincent D'Onofrio.  He eventually secures his immediate future by achieving university admission in far-off New York, but he has only managed this by proffering a string of lies about his background.  The big problem is that although the cast was able and the story sufficiently involving (if only to wonder where it was all going), none of the characters were that easy to like.  I don't think I would wish to know them better or revisit any of them.