Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted (1992) (TV)

Director:

George Kaczender

Writers (WGA):

Doris Silverton (story) &
Peter Nelson (story) ...

Release Date:

19 October 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Social Worker | Heart Surgery | Parent Child Relationship | Based On Fact | Teenage Boy

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

JoBeth Williams	...	Ginny Moore
Chris Burke	...	Jonathan Willis
Jeffrey DeMunn	...	Frank Moore
Tom Mason	...	Max Willis
Robert Cicchini	...	Neil Vogler
Chris Demetral	...	Brad Moore
Dana Barron	...	Laurie Moore
Mason Adams	...	Judge Colbert
Paul Linke	...	Dr. Sullivan
H. Richard Greene	...	Wolff
Madge Sinclair	...	Faye Lincoln
Alley Mills	...	Carol Willis
Lorraine Morin-Torre	...	Ada
Brandon Bauer	...	Jonathan Willis Ages 11-13
K.C. Clarizio	...	Jonathan Willis Age 6

Also Known As:

Who Speaks for Jonathan? (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

Brazil:93 min | USA:100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

San Diego, California, USA

Company:

Gross-Weston Productions

One might find it boring, but it's actually quite stupid

Lifetime has aired this movie about 8 thousand times, but I skipped each and every viewing, because, well, what a boring title and plot(families battle each other for the custody of an autistic "child," ) Finally, when I was stuck watching this one, I realized it wasn't exactly boring, but actually really dumb.

I think my gripe was with the character of Jonathan, since the other characters were to wooden and dull to really care much about. I admit to missing about the first forty minutes of this, and maybe Jonathan was appealing then, but from what I saw of him, I had to wonder--who'd WANT him? He is very whiny and irritating and acts about SIX(and looks about thirty)! Since this movie was, of course, Based on a True Story, was the real Jonathan a young child and they just couldn't find any convincing young actors, or do they... think people with Down's Syndrome really are that childish? Jonathan plays with toys. He has a child's birthday party. When he is scolded and feels "ashamed," he sits in bed and throws a blanket over his head. He also speaks in not-very-sophisticated grammer like "he be gone" (or whatever), throws tantrums, SETS FIRES WHEN HE DOES NOT GET HIS OWN WAY and does countless other things that people (above the age of about seven) with Down's Syndrome probably don't do and would probably find offensive.

Plus, for whatever reason, Jonathan coughs, has the forethought to bring a handkerchief along, and blood always appears on it(I have seen this cliche in quite a few movies.) I guess he was supposed to have a heart condition, but do people cough up blood when that happens? And, I hate to say this, but Jonathan annoyed me to a point where if his heart condition..got the best of him, I wouldn't have cared that much. I could see why Jonathan was "the boy nobody wanted."