Director: Ira Wohl
Year Released: 1979
Rating: 3.5
What starts off as (I feared) another after-school special or a government-made film about mental retardation becomes more and more poignant as it proceeds - you can tell that director Wohl, who documents the life of his 52-year-old cousin Philly, has a genuine concern for this subject and the subject's family. We see Wohl's "intervention" - his changing of his role from strictly filmmaker to active participant - and his scheme to have Philly establish a life outside of his family and learn to live with other mentally retarded individuals in a group home setting. Both of Philly's parents are getting up in years, but his mother doesn't want him to leave her ("I need him" she tells Wohl ... and us), fearing for his safety in a strange world. What develops is a genuine rapport between audience and Philly, who is wistful, pleasant and a nice man (had he been angry or difficult like some of the other mentally challenged people at Philly's "school," Wohl wouldn't have a film), and whose willingness to try new things is inspiring. A few moments are milked for their inherent sadness factor - one, in particular, has Philly singing a famous sad song while his father, whose feelings towards Philly are mixed, breaks down - but for the most part Wohl keeps the film on steady ground. An oft-mentioned scene to be cherished involves great actor Zero Mostel and his willingness to sing a "duet" with Philly. Best Boy is a feel-good story in the best possible sense.
