Now streaming on Disney+, is the coming-of-age drama, Out of My Mind. Directed by Amber Sealey, and based on the novel of the same name by Sharon M. Draper, the movie stars Phoebe-Rae Taylor, Rosemarie DeWitt, Luke Kirby, Courtney Taylor, and Jennifer Aniston and follows the story of a young girl balancing her pre-teen years with her disability.
In the movie, the year is 2002 and Melody Brooks is a non-speaking girl with cerebral palsy. Melody lives with her parents and younger sister, has limited mobility, and spends her free time watching episodes of Friends.
During the day time, Melody attends school like every other child her age, but is assigned to a class which is ill-equipped to meet her needs. Melody is very intelligent, but her class doesn’t really offer the opportunities to grow and develop, and she desperately needs to move to somewhere new.
This is something her father is very aware of and is keen to address, but her mother is over protective and initially feels Melody is best where she is. However, she eventually agrees and soon Melody is embarking on a new chapter in her life.
This new chapter isn’t easy, and includes many road blocks. But Melody, her family, and her teaching aid, find ways to continually move forward.
Marvellous, marvellous, marvellous – Out of My Mind is simply marvellous. This is a superb little film, which looks at the challenges and frustrations experienced by someone living with a disability.
The movie digs deep into the difficulties that Melody faces; highlights the importance of tolerance and understanding; and tells her story in a respectful and insightful way. The film continually demonstrates the barriers that are placed in Melody’s path, but makes it clear she has the tenacity to not let anything stop her.
Most important all, the film shows Melody as an individual, as a teen, and as a good person. Too many people treat her with contempt, but this doesn’t make Melody bitter, and her effervescence shines through.
Phoebe-Rae Taylor takes on the role of Melody (in her screen debut) and she is brilliant. Truly brilliant.
Taylor fills the screen with such charm and likability, you can’t help but champion Melody during every scene. Back in 2002, the world wasn’t built for Melody, Taylor helps to convey this, and she becomes the jewel in this sparkling picture.
She is joined by a solid cast, who offer great support, including a fine turn by Courtney Taylor as Melody’s teaching aid, Dr. Katherine Ray. And in an interesting little addition to the film, Jennifer Aniston pops up as the voice of Melody’s inner monologue, adding a dash of star power to this otherwise fairly small-scale picture.
But it’s a small-scale picture with a lot of heart, a great deal of passion, and really smart direction. It also features a great script from Daniel Stiepleman, with some impactful lines (“If I make you uncomfortable, deal with it.”).
Out of My Mind made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival back in January, before finally appearing on Disney+ this November. As such, few will have heard of the film or even know of its existence, and there is a chance it will get lost in the mix during Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year etc.
But don’t let this movie pass you by. Out of My Mind is an excellent film which conveys an important message, without being heavy handed or preachy, and is sure to bring a tear to the eye and place a smile on your face.
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