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‘Out of My Mind’ Review: Disney Feature Sends a Positive Message About Disability, Though the Heroine’s Shine Needs a Polish
A quick-witted sixth-grader with cerebral palsy realizes it’s tough to grow up when folks underestimate her abilities in Disney’s ‘Out of My Mind.’
However, this newly unlocked world isn’t easy for Melody to negotiate as she suffers indignities from popular classmates Claire (Kate Moyer) and Jodie (Gabriela Francis), as well as being held to an impossible standard by exclusionist teacher Mr. Dimmings (Michael Chernus). The only things she needs to overcome are her external circumstances: abuses of power by doctors, insurance agents, school administrators and bullies intent on keeping her down — some of which feel contrived (like her exclusion from a trivia team activity after she’s proven herself a star player). She finds a vulnerable tenderness in scenes with DeWitt, who this year alone has portrayed many facets of motherhood — from a cheerleading nurturer in this film to a toxic momager in “Smile 2.” Kirby builds depth and dimension into his grounded depiction of a harried father and husband.
Or read this on Variety
