The Mighty is a drama movie that debuted October 9, 1998.

When the show opens, we are introduced to challanged Maxwell Kane (Elden Henson), who is being bullied by a bunch of other kids, on a public transportation bus. Maxwell has a very vivid imagination that allows him to escape reality especially when he is in a bad situation. 

The vociferous Gram (Gena Rowlands) is talking rudely about the next door neighbor, to her husband, Grim (Harry Dean Stanton, Paris), who nonchalantly asks for a cup of coffee.

Physically disabled, Kevin Dillion (Kieran Culkin) is slowly walking through the grade school, when the kids decide to throw a basketball at him, which knocked him to the floor. He doesn’t get upset only makes a snide comment. The teenagers blame the dirty act on Kane, so he is punished with after school detention.

Kane must attend special classes because he has dyslexia. Little does he know that Kevin is going to be his tudor. Kevin is very intelligent, way beyond his years. He cons Maxwell into taking him to the carnival by giving his $5. 

At the carnival, they encounter the Blade (Joseph Perrino) and his gang, who try to bully the two but are run off by an older gentleman. They enjoy the fireworks but are hassled the rest of the time by the gang. They make a quick escape, through the swamps but get stuck in mud and have to be rescued by the cops, which take them home to Grim and Gram’s house.

Maxwell becomes upset and tries to give Kevin his $5 but he refuses it and tells him “look, I need legs and you need a brain”, so off they go on another adventure through town. When Maxwell carries Kevin on his shoulders they become one, one big giant. They learn together that they can do anything. 

Blade and his gang steal a wallet and throw it down a man hole to avoid getting arrested and Kevin sees them in action. He decides that Maxwell and he must retrieve it and return it to it’s rightful owner. They fight off the gang and return the wallet to the drunk, obnoxious Loretta Lee (Gillian Anderson). 

Max is reminded of his past when his father murdered his mother. They make a pact to never mention their biological fathers ever again. 

Kevin’s mother, Gwen (Sharon Stone) goes to school and fights for her son to have the right to be carried around on Maxwell’s shoulders as often as they like. Together they are beginning to become unstoppable and gaining lots of popularity with everyone.

Max becomes upset when the principal, Mrs. Addison (Jennifer Lewis) tells him that his father is getting out of prison. He falls back in his chair and hits his head and begins to remember bad things about his father.

Kevin is joking around in the cafeteria and becomes choked on noodles, Max rushes in to save him. He is taken to the hospital and Maxwell stays right by his side. The doc tells Gwen that Kevin’s disease is progressing rapidly and his life expectancy is only a year. She becomes very upset and Maxwell is there to comfort her during her anguish. 

They continue to venture out as often as they can and one day Kevin educates Maxwell on medical scientific study and tells him that the scientists are going to give him a new body.

Maxwell breaks down to Gramm and tells her that he is afraid that he has turn out just like his murderous father, but she assures him that he is nothing like him. That night his father, Kenny (James Gandolfini, Sopranos), kidnapshim and takes him a Loretta’s house. Kevin sets out to find Max and steals his mother’s van but unfortuantely does not get very far before he crashes it at a road construction site. He takes off on a piece of scrap metal from the van and begins to slide down a steep slope.

Kevin is successful in his search and he is determined to rescue Max. They are freed and the cops capture Kenny and transport him back to jail,but this time he would not get a chance for parole ever again. Max with Kevin on his shoulders head back home. 

Everyone celebrates Christmas but it is obvious that kevin is becoming sicker by the day. Kevin gives Max an empty book for him to fill with words that will come from his immagination. 

How many more adventures will Kevin and Max be able to venture on before he fades away into eternity?

Afterthought

The Mighty is definitely a hidden gem. It shows how two young boys, both with different disabilities, can brave the world together. Kind of reminds you of The Wizard Of Oz, how all the characters are lacking in something, but together they get Dorothy home safe and sound. 

Review

The Mighty is a tear jerker and you definitley should watch this wonderful film. The scenery and the screenplay is absolutly wonderful and I applaud the writers and the directors. For two young actors, Kieran Culkin and Elden Henson did a great job with their huge roles. This movie deserves an 8.5 out of 10.