Out of My Mind is an American drama film, directed by Amber Sealy. It is based on the novel of the same name by Sharon M. Draper. It was released on Disney+ on November 22, 2024.
Synopsis[]
Melody Brooks is navigating sixth grade as a nonverbal wheelchair user who has cerebral palsy and a photographic memory. With the help of some assistive technology and her devoted allies, Melody shows that what she has to say is more important than how she says it.
Plot[]
Set in 2002, Melody Brooks is a non speaking wheelchair user who has cerebral palsy and a photographic memory. While she is unable to speak, her internal thoughts are rendered in the voice of actress Jennifer Aniston, due her favorite TV show being Friends. She has a younger sister named Penny and is constantly watched after by her parents Chuck and Diane, the former of whom believes deserves a better education due to her very obvious intelligence. Following a meeting with Dr. Katherine Ray, she offers to have her enrolled in a program for sixth grade where she sits among students in a regular class. Diane is reluctant to allow it, but Chuck convinces her to have her enrolled.
Melody is sent to Mr. Dimming's class where her appearance makes it awkward among the other students and Mr. Dimming himself. Despite showcasing her intelligence, she is met with indifference, though she manages to acquire the attention of classmate Rose Spencer. Their friendship starts off incredibly one-sided, especially after Melody invites Rose to the museum. Rose becomes distracted by her other friends while Melody wanders off on her own. Chuck and Diane decide to apply for a Medi-Talker and Melody is able to speak with an electronic voice, which she happily uses to her heart's content.
When Mr. Dimming announces the Whiz Kids student competition, Melody convinces Rose to study with her after revealing that her Medi-Talker has games on it that can help them study. The girls bond for the first time. After taking the test, the students chosen to represent their school are chosen. While Rose makes it, Melody does not, causing Chuck, Diane, and Dr. Ray to become suspicious. They learn that not only did Melody get %100 correct on the test, but Mr. Dimming chose to not even grade it. Principal Antenucci is upset that Mr. Dimming's reputation is tarnished and Dr. Ray realizes that she has no concern for helping students like Melody. Melody joins the team, but Rose is forced into alternate, greatly upsetting her.
The students go the Whiz Kids competition where Melody shines through, winning for the team. Afterwards, the group celebrates Melody due to her eating habits. At the last minute, Mr. Dimming is informed that their flight to Washington has been cancelled and that their flight moved up, forcing everyone to hurry to the airport. Due to Melody not being with them, she is informed last and misses the flight. Out of anger, Melody floods her Medi-Talk with a milkshake. As Diane argues with Melody in the car, she fails to see Penny playing in the driveway and hits her. She survives, but is hospitalized. Diane admits to Melody that she has been messing up more than her and that she is not to blame for recent events.
The Whiz Kids team return from their trip to Washington, having lost. Melody arrives with her parents to the class to finally make her peace with the help of her Medi-Talk. She outs everyone for not treating her with respect and for pitying her and that she is not looking for them to not just treat her better, but to acknowledge her and actually listen to her. Her words move Mr. Billings and the class and she is welcomed back with open arms. As she finishes her inner thoughts, her Jennifer Aniston voice switches to her Medi-Talk voice, implying that she now embraces herself for who she is.
During the credits, Melody thanks Jennifer Aniston for allowing her to "borrow" her voice.
Cast[]
- Phoebe-Rae Taylor as Melody Brooks
- Jennifer Aniston as Melody's Inner Voice (uncredited)
- Margot Thomas as Medi-Talker Voice
- Rosemarie DeWitt as Diane Brooks
- Luke Kirby as Chuck Brooks
- Emily Mitchell as Penny Brooks
- Judith Light as Mrs. V.
- Courtney Taylor as Dr. Katherine Ray
- Michael Chernus as Mr. Dimming
- Pip McCallan as Maria
- Maria Nash as Rose Spencer
- Gavin MacIver-Wright as Rodney Walsh
- Ian Ho as Connor Bates
- Kate Moyer as Claire West
- Sharron Matthews as Mrs. Anastasia Billups
- Catherine McNally as Principal Antenucci
- Kevin Jubinville as Len "The King" Kingsley
Production[]
On May 4, 2022, Deadline reported that a drama film based on the novel by Sharon M. Draper was in development for Disney+.[1]
On July 18, 2022, Deadline reported that Phoebe-Rae Taylor, Rosemarie DeWitt, Luke Kirby, Judith Light, Michael Chernus, Courtney Taylor, and Emily Mitchell joined the cast of the film.[2]
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- This is the second Disney film premiered at Sundance Film Festival after Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made.
References[]
External links[]