Movie: Thumbsucker ****

You know its bloody cold when you drive to the Lyall Bay Warehouse to buy another fan heater (for only $12 too I might add).

So what better way to spend a cold saturday night than sipping merlot, eating fish and chips and watching DVDs?

I just watched Thumbsucker, it's about a 17 year old - Justin who funnily enough, sucks his thumb and is basically a coming of age tale.

Justin's buddhist orthodontist - Perry, played by a hilarious Keanu Reeves, hypnotises him and tells him he needs to find his inner animal (which is a deer btw) to stop his thumbsucking. Instead Justin finds prescription drugs (which enables him to become a champion debater), then pot, then sex to take his mind off his problems, before realising that everyone has their skeletons and issues.

Lou Pucci is stand out in his role as Justin, picking up Best Actor gongs at both Berlin and Sundance film festivals, and there are great turns by the odd debate coach - Vince Vaughn, and his mother Tilda Swinton (White Witch in Narnia).

This is a fantastic film in much the same style as Garden State, Donnie Darko etc. Thumbsucker makes it points well and and is very humourous along the way. Great first film for director Mike Mills.