I Am The Cheese
I Am The Cheese
PG | 11 November 1983 (USA)
I Am The Cheese Trailers

Adapted from the Robert Cormier novel. This film follows the life of a young boy whose happy, if somewhat unusual life with his friends and family gradually starts to unravel, until the truth of the boy's situation is finally revealed.

Reviews
Evengyny Thanks for the memories!
Matialth Good concept, poorly executed.
Afouotos Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.
Billie Morin This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows
friendwes About the only people who will have any appreciation for this movie are homesick Vermonters...I grew up riding my bike on the same roads as Adam, so it was a hoot to see Marshfield & Barre from back in the day. It was even better to hear the gold-domed State Capitol Building described as a "court house." Don't bother renting this film- it's truly awful. And the ending sucks. I don't understand why it was ever released on DVD...maybe it was an attempt to capitalize on the study hall market- bored kids watching the movie because they can't be bothered to crack open the book...Why on earth Robert Wagner chose to get involved with such a lame project is beyond me...
jmorgan-15 First I must admit that I could not sit through the entire film. After only 30 minutes, I realized that none of the characters from the book were in the film, just card board cut-outs. They took a nervous and fearful Adam and made him a smiling and waving awkward kid. Heck, Amy wasn't even a tomboy. They butchered the atmosphere as well, no suspense or sense of foreboding. So I shipped to the end and guess what, they butchered the ending too.Read the book, it has awesome characters and a story that builds and keeps you thinking and an ending worth talking about. As for the movie, shame on everyone involved in its making and shame on you if you watch it after reading this.
stevenb30 Why did they even bother? This film is based on a book that falls into the general category of "nothing is at it seems to be." The film, possibly due to its complete lack of pacing, never gives the viewer the feeling it seems to be anything coherent. There is no dramatic tension for anyone that hasn't read the book. Which is a waste given the talented cast.But ultimately, the film's biggest sin is the ending (SPOILER). The book's payoff is the horror that reveals itself bit by bit -- culminating in the revelation that Adam is doomed. The changed ending (that some would consider "happy") denigrates this film to a fourth rate movie of the week.
eddie324 While not a perfect film, it had a lot of film elements that came together quite nicely. The spoiler of this *** AND DON'T READ ON IF YOU WANT TO ENJOY THE TWIST *** is how much the subject matter was similar to A Beautiful Mind. Creating people, places and events all in the subconscious. The Vermont locations were fabulous. I don't think had this film been made elsewhere, there wouldn't have been that solitude of a young man, his bike and a mysterious wrapped gift he's taking to his father. Scenes with town folk and some local bullies may have been slight plot devices, but that is entirely miniscule compared to how they move the story along. I Am The Cheese (a metaphor title-listen to The Farmer In The Dell nursery rhyme throughout the film) has an independent feel to it and it's obvious low budget gives it a "you-are-there-on-those-old-roads-in-Vermont" feel. I'm curious to know why Robert Wagner, fresh from his successful "Hart To Hart" series, took on this film.