North (1994)

North (1994) This is how you don't try to get a better family if your life sucks. Gender: Male Type: Brilliant, but egotistic boy Age: Presumably 9, according to the book Species: Human Portrayed by: Elijah Wood Status: Alive Media of origin: North

North is the titular protagonist of the critically panned 1994 film North, which is an adaptation of the novel North: The Tale of a 9-Year-Old Boy Who Becomes a Free Agent and Travels the World in Search of the Perfect Parents. He is portrayed by Elijah Wood.

While he is not a very egotistical person (where he is not an egotistical person at all) in North: The Tale of a 9-Year-Old-Boy Who Becomes a Free Agent and Travels the World in search of the Perfect Parents and is a nice kid, however, he was sadly flanderized in the 1994 film titled North, becoming a very egotistical kid.

Why The Late Roger Ebert Hated Him So Much

1. For starters, North is an unlikable protagonist. He is supposed to be seen as a victim of neglect and unappreciation, but he really comes across as a very egotistical person who cares about being noticed and thinks the world revolves around him.
2. He believes that his parents ignore him and want nothing to do with him, which is not true. While they are (laughably) rude parents, they still seem to care for him, but he's too selfish and stubborn to see that.
3. He should be sympathized because he feels unappreciated, but he's really a selfish and shallow person who cares more about attention and better parents than what he has.
4. North dumps various families just because they're not used to his best potentials when he could try a little harder to accept them.
5. He is rude towards others, especially some who are nice to him.
6. He might be racist since the time when he moved from his parents and tried to find a new family was a dream (in a cliché way) and he saw stereotypes on his way. The page about the movie can explain.
7. In fact, the only reason he came back home was not that he missed his parents and realized how much they mattered to him, but that his other parents didn't worship him enough which proves he learned nothing about what he has than what he wants.
8. He is sexualized a few times in the film.
9. Elijah Wood does not give a convincing or entertaining performance as North. Instead, his performance is just really clichéd, bland and uninteresting.
10. While the scene at the Amish settlement and the Amish stereotype who is there is admittedly funny, however, it is admittedly stereotypical, and can be seen as offensive to a few people, especially to the Old Order Amish type of people.

Redeeming Qualities

1. The scene with him at the Amish settlement is admittedly quite funny, and the appearance of the Amish stereotype is thankfully very brief, despite WTLREHHSM#10.
2. He was a much better character in the novel, and this is saying a lot.
3. North can come off as sympathetic and or a bit sympathetic to some people, especially since he is a victim of neglect and also unappreciation, despite WTLREHHSM#1.
4. He came back to his parents' home in the ending, despite WTLREHHSM#7.

Trivia

• The late Roger Ebert really hated North, where he said it in a few interviews, and he put an entertaining for a lot of people review in I Hated, Hated, Hated This Movie: Ebert, Roger.

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