Movie review - "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (2008) **1/2

Far more Forrest Gump than F Scott Fitzgerald - which maybe explains why it was a hit when so many cinema versions of Fitzgerald flop. Like Gump (the films share the same writer) here is a tale that goes on for ever, covers generations, hits on key pop culture moments ("the day that will live in infamy", ushering in the sixties listening to Twist and Shout), is set in the South, has a hero who works for a period of time working on a boat, fights in a war in which his friend dies (even if in this one he isn't a soldier), has a long running romance with a girl he ultimately can't be with because of factors beyond his control (in this case his reverse ageing process rather than intelligence) yet they still conceive a child together, he makes lots of money, gets along well with blacks (who are family figures for him), demonstrates incredible special effects (in this case ones for ageing instead of missing limbs), wise mother, folksy narration, etc etc. It's got Gump's flaws in it's lead characters - neither

Like Gump it's also reassuring - you experience the fantasy about getting younger but ultimately realise that it's better to age normally. And some of it is very good - the effects are stunning and the image of Cate Blanchett nursing a baby, senile Benjamin really hits home.