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Special (film)
Encyclopedia
Special is a 2006 drama film written and directed by Hal Haberman and Jeremy Passmore. It was released in theatres in the UK on November 17, 2006 and on DVD in the UK on March 5, 2007. It was released in theatres in the US on November 21, 2008.
) signs up for an experimental antidepressant
. Dr. Dobson (Jack Kehler
) instructs him to take one pill per day. Les creates a diary for his experiences, but feels no results. Les' feelings of reluctance keep him from getting to know Maggie (Alexandra Holden
), a quiet girl who works at a grocery store.
After several days of taking the pill, Les experiences supernatural powers, beginning with the ability to float. Paying a visit to Dobson, he sees himself floating, but Dobson sees him laying on the floor: Les has no powers at all. He explains that Les is having an adverse psychotic reaction to the drug and orders him to stop taking it. Les instead convinces himself that he has telepathy
and Dobson is telling him to continue taking the drug.
Gaining self confidence, Les quits his job in order to become a crime fighting vigilante, and gains a reputation for tackling people after stopping a gunman from robbing Maggie's store, believing he is picking up telepathic intent to rob stores. He confides his new gifts to best friends Joey (Josh Peck
) and Everett (Robert Baker
), who think he's playing when he displays his phasing
"power", only to run into a wall. Les tries to join the police
, but escapes when he is sought for the assaults.
After Dobson learns that Les is still taking the drug and getting worse he calls on two representatives, Ted (Ian Bohen) and Jonas (Paul Blackthorne
) to talk Les out of taking the drugs. Les believes they are there to take his powers away (as he is confronted by an alternate version of himself "from a future that will now never exist"), so his "future self" stabs Jonas in the ear and Les runs off. Les "teleports" (sneaks behind) Ted and knocks him out then escapes to join Everett and Joey, who believe "the suits" are nonsense like Les' powers.
On the way to Dobson, Les stops a purse snatcher, which astounds his two friends. They go to Dobson who claims to have never seen Les, but gives the two friends a liquid to flush the medication from Les' body. Les leaves all three and finds that Jonas and Ted have broken into his apartment and are reading through his diary, talking about kidnapping him for a few days for the drug to work its way out of his system.
Dobson confesses that Les' reaction could ruin the company if the word got out. Dobson notes that he attempted to recover his career and life, while Les swallows the remaining pills. After Les leaves and makes Ted and Jonas "disappear", but the pair beat up Les until he snaps and knocks both out. Realizing that he is losing his mind, he runs to Maggie's store. She reveals she likes him, but does not speak to him because of a stutter, Les admits to liking her and requests to be locked up until the drug leaves his system.
Les awakens the following morning and to find he cannot float. In his walk home, Jonas runs him down with his car and Ted leaves as Jonas repeatedly hits Les with the automobile, until Les walks off injured, but now with confidence.
, 55% of critics gave Special a positive review, with an average
rating of 5.6/10.
Plot
Comic book fan Les Franken (Michael RapaportMichael Rapaport
Michael David Rapaport is an American, actor, director and a comedian. He has acted in more than forty films since the early 1990s...
) signs up for an experimental antidepressant
Antidepressant
An antidepressant is a psychiatric medication used to alleviate mood disorders, such as major depression and dysthymia and anxiety disorders such as social anxiety disorder. According to Gelder, Mayou &*Geddes people with a depressive illness will experience a therapeutic effect to their mood;...
. Dr. Dobson (Jack Kehler
Jack Kehler
Jack Kehler is an actor. He is sometimes credited as Jack Keeler.Jack has appeared in over 60 feature films, including Men in Black II. One of his most memorable performances was in film Love Liza as Denny, an energetic radio control hobbyist trying to help Philip Seymour Hoffman's character come...
) instructs him to take one pill per day. Les creates a diary for his experiences, but feels no results. Les' feelings of reluctance keep him from getting to know Maggie (Alexandra Holden
Alexandra Holden
-Life and career:Holden was born in Northfield, Minnesota, the daughter of Kristi and Barry Holden. She played film roles in Drop Dead Gorgeous as Mary Johanson and in Sugar & Spice as Fern Rogers. She also starred in the low budget slasher film Wishcraft.Holden has also had roles in TV and music...
), a quiet girl who works at a grocery store.
After several days of taking the pill, Les experiences supernatural powers, beginning with the ability to float. Paying a visit to Dobson, he sees himself floating, but Dobson sees him laying on the floor: Les has no powers at all. He explains that Les is having an adverse psychotic reaction to the drug and orders him to stop taking it. Les instead convinces himself that he has telepathy
Telepathy
Telepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
and Dobson is telling him to continue taking the drug.
Gaining self confidence, Les quits his job in order to become a crime fighting vigilante, and gains a reputation for tackling people after stopping a gunman from robbing Maggie's store, believing he is picking up telepathic intent to rob stores. He confides his new gifts to best friends Joey (Josh Peck
Josh Peck
Joshua Michael "Josh" Peck is an American actor, comedian, director, and voice actor best known for playing Josh Nichols in the Nickelodeon live-action sitcom Drake & Josh. He began his career as a child actor in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and became known to young audiences after his role on...
) and Everett (Robert Baker
Robert Baker (actor)
Robert Baker is an American actor known for his roles in Valentine, Grey's Anatomy, Out of Time and a supporting role in the film Special.-Credits:- External links :...
), who think he's playing when he displays his phasing
Phasing
In the compositional technique phasing, the same part is played on two musical instruments, in steady but not identical tempo...
"power", only to run into a wall. Les tries to join the police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
, but escapes when he is sought for the assaults.
After Dobson learns that Les is still taking the drug and getting worse he calls on two representatives, Ted (Ian Bohen) and Jonas (Paul Blackthorne
Paul Blackthorne
Paul Blackthorne is a British actor on film, television and radio. Although born in Shropshire, England, he spent his early childhood on British Military bases in both England and Germany. Blackthorne broke into acting via television commercials in England...
) to talk Les out of taking the drugs. Les believes they are there to take his powers away (as he is confronted by an alternate version of himself "from a future that will now never exist"), so his "future self" stabs Jonas in the ear and Les runs off. Les "teleports" (sneaks behind) Ted and knocks him out then escapes to join Everett and Joey, who believe "the suits" are nonsense like Les' powers.
On the way to Dobson, Les stops a purse snatcher, which astounds his two friends. They go to Dobson who claims to have never seen Les, but gives the two friends a liquid to flush the medication from Les' body. Les leaves all three and finds that Jonas and Ted have broken into his apartment and are reading through his diary, talking about kidnapping him for a few days for the drug to work its way out of his system.
Dobson confesses that Les' reaction could ruin the company if the word got out. Dobson notes that he attempted to recover his career and life, while Les swallows the remaining pills. After Les leaves and makes Ted and Jonas "disappear", but the pair beat up Les until he snaps and knocks both out. Realizing that he is losing his mind, he runs to Maggie's store. She reveals she likes him, but does not speak to him because of a stutter, Les admits to liking her and requests to be locked up until the drug leaves his system.
Les awakens the following morning and to find he cannot float. In his walk home, Jonas runs him down with his car and Ted leaves as Jonas repeatedly hits Les with the automobile, until Les walks off injured, but now with confidence.
Cast
- Michael RapaportMichael RapaportMichael David Rapaport is an American, actor, director and a comedian. He has acted in more than forty films since the early 1990s...
as Les Franken - Paul BlackthornePaul BlackthornePaul Blackthorne is a British actor on film, television and radio. Although born in Shropshire, England, he spent his early childhood on British Military bases in both England and Germany. Blackthorne broke into acting via television commercials in England...
as Jonas Exiler - Josh PeckJosh PeckJoshua Michael "Josh" Peck is an American actor, comedian, director, and voice actor best known for playing Josh Nichols in the Nickelodeon live-action sitcom Drake & Josh. He began his career as a child actor in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and became known to young audiences after his role on...
as Joey - Robert Baker as Everett
- Jack KehlerJack KehlerJack Kehler is an actor. He is sometimes credited as Jack Keeler.Jack has appeared in over 60 feature films, including Men in Black II. One of his most memorable performances was in film Love Liza as Denny, an energetic radio control hobbyist trying to help Philip Seymour Hoffman's character come...
as Dr. Dobson - Alexandra HoldenAlexandra Holden-Life and career:Holden was born in Northfield, Minnesota, the daughter of Kristi and Barry Holden. She played film roles in Drop Dead Gorgeous as Mary Johanson and in Sugar & Spice as Fern Rogers. She also starred in the low budget slasher film Wishcraft.Holden has also had roles in TV and music...
as Maggie - Ian Bohen as Ted Exiler
- Christopher Darga as Steve
Reception
Based on 29 reviews collected by the film review aggregator Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
, 55% of critics gave Special a positive review, with an average
Weighted mean
The weighted mean is similar to an arithmetic mean , where instead of each of the data points contributing equally to the final average, some data points contribute more than others...
rating of 5.6/10.