Mr. Holland's Opus MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +3 1/2 Content: +1

Mr. Holland (Richard Dreyfuss) has always dreamed of becoming a great composer. When in 1965, however, he cannot make enough money to make ends meet, he decides to take a temporary job as the local high school music teacher. Holland is at first a terrible teacher, but through persistence and the insightful school principal (Olympia Dukakis) he learns how to instill the passion of music into the lives of his students. His four years stretch into many more and at the same time he and his wife (Glenne Headly) have a child who turns out to be deaf. The terrible irony that Mr. Holland, who loves to listen and compose music, should have a deaf son makes Mr. Holland a little distant towards his child. As the years move on, his son and wife grow increasingly closer as he draws apart from them. His music job at the school becomes paramount and soon he finds his family falling apart. What the good Mr. Holland does to bring his family back together will touch your heart. The great acting by Richard Dreyfuss, the uplifting message and the music makes this movie an enjoyable treat for adults and older children.

MR. HOLLAND'S OPUS entertains with almost no objectionable elements. Their family is portrayed as a strong one, which ultimately loves each other deeply. Mr. Holland and the other teachers are portrayed as people who really care for the students and want to see them succeed. Over the 30 years Mr. Holland teaches music, we see the clothing and music styles change, but the kids stay basically the same. They are willing to learn when someone motivates them. A little bit of exclamatory and regular profanity along with one s-word unfortunately mar the dialogue. Also, the audience learns the sign for a moderate crude word, which is repeated several times. A very brief scene contrasting the 80's with the 90's shows two high school boys holding hands on the way to school. On a positive note, there is no sexual conduct, no suggestive language and no way that MR. HOLLAND'S OPUS won't be a successful movie. It is music to your ears and eyes.

Preview Reviewer: Greg Wilson
Distributor: Buena Vista Distribution, 3900 W. Alameda Ave., Burbank, CA 91521