'THUMBSUCKER' Complex character foibles revealed from 1 bad habit

Lou Pucci plays a juvenile who, at age 17, still sucks his thumb.
By BETSY PICKLE
SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE
It's doubtful that "Thumbsucker" will take the country by storm the way "Napoleon Dynamite" did, but the two films aren't that far apart. Both were hits at the Sundance Film Festival and have to do with high school losers. Each film's young star has an escalating level of Gen-Y celebrity.
"Napoleon" is about a guy who thinks he's cool and lives in a state of contented denial. "Thumbsucker" is about a guy who knows he isn't cool and yearns to find clarity.
In "Thumbsucker," 17-year-old Justin Cobb (Lou Pucci) hasn't been able to kick his lifelong habit of sucking his thumb. His no-nonsense father, Mike (Vincent D'Onofrio), is out of patience with Justin's perceived weakness and gives him the toughlove treatment. His eager-to-please mother, Audrey (Tilda Swinton), tries to be supportive and let Justin get where he needs to go in his own way.
New Age orthodontist Perry (Keanu Reeves) has always been there to deal with the consequences of Justin's behavior, but he finally steps in and attempts a cure with hypnosis. He suggests that Justin identify his "power animal" and use it for strength. Justin's power animal turns out to be a delicate fawn.
Justin is so shy and insecure that he can't even talk to girls, but for some reason he subjects himself to debate club. It's likely that reason is Rebecca (Kelli Garner), a pretty brunette who's passionate about the environment. The club adviser, Mr. Geary (Vince Vaughn), sees potential in Justin and encourages him.
Thanks to Mr. Geary, Justin is diagnosed as having ADHD. Justin is thrilled to think that his problems could be solved by medication, and once he starts on his pills he seems to become a new person. But it turns out that that new person still might not be the real Justin.
Deeper character development
Unlike the two-dimensional "Napoleon Dynamite," "Thumbsucker" delves into far more than the life of the central character. There are illuminating detours into Mike's disappointment, Audrey's discontent, Perry's arrested development and Rebecca's insecurity. Little brother Joel (Chase Offerle) and fallen idol Matt Schramm (Benjamin Bratt) also get consideration.
Even when the focus is on Justin, the other characters put him in perspective. Pucci does a great job of absorbing the light and transforming it into Justin's conviction of the moment. But there's never any doubt that Justin wants to change.
Writer-director Mike Mills obviously takes issue with the practice of prescribing away problems, but he doesn't pound the bully pulpit. He's sly about the issue of drug use, both legal and illegal.
What Mills is more interested in is how parents and children interact and shape each other. He demonstrates effectively that it's not a one-way street. "Thumbsucker" takes its title from one bad habit, but it explores a family album full of them.