Here is a well told story, an update on the film which made a big splash in the 60s and is based on the book by Daniel Keyes. This one stars Matthew Modine who does an excellent job playing Charlie Gordon, a retarded young man who works in a bakery, and receives a rare opportunity to undergo an operation which might increase his intelligence. Following the surgery and Charlie’s surging intelligence, he realizes some of his co-workers had fun at his expense and they feel awkward now that they no longer can tease him.

Charlie becomes attached to Alice Kinnian (Kelli Williams), his teacher. He sees her in a different light once his intelligence soars. Sadly for Charlie, a mouse which had undergone the surgery even before he did, named Algernon, begins to regress and regress rapidly. It soon becomes apparent that Charlie’s amazing recovery will be short lived.

This is an interesting story and handled well by the filmmakers but unfortunately there is a scene which, though not graphic, clearly is a scene of an unmarried couple having sex. The woman is seen in bed with her nude back showing. This prevents us from awarding our Dove Seal to what was otherwise a nicely made film.