Out of My Mind is a perfect Disney+ film… in a good way. It’s earnest and honest and has something and someone to champion. It’s moving without being cloying or cheesy. It stars a wonderful young actress who I had to Google to see how much she was acting. It may not hit for everyone, but it hit for me.

It’s about a teenage girl with cerebral palsy… consigned to a wheelchair, she has limited use of her hands and can utter small affirmatives and negatives. Otherwise, she relies on a word board and, through the course of the movie, a tablet that allows her to speak. We see her face casual challenges and prejudices… nothing overly dramatic but real.

The main point of conversation has to be Phoebe-Rae Taylor in her first movie role. She has cerebral palsy herself… but she’s verbal and appears to have more use of her hands so this was a real acting gig for her. She plays a bright, intelligent, funny, sad, and angry character who is basically locked into her own brain. Thankfully there’s technology to assist (as well as a Stephen Hawking to motivate).

The film is genuinely moving… my favorite moment being when her dad first hears her speak through the new tablet. He’s breaking down in happiness and she’s unsure of his response. It’s lovely. This could be a schmaltzy movie but its too brash and forthright to fall back on the usual tricks of overly-inspirational Hollywood pablum.

Does it pander or feel like they are preaching? No, not really. Clearly they wanted to make a movie that informs the viewer that a person with cerebral palsy can still be a fully functioning person. It’s a message, for sure. But I never felt it was overdoing itself.

Out of My Mind is a wonderful, heart-felt film starring a bright newcomer who faces the challenges her character does. If you have an open heart and only 50% cynicism, give it a shot. And if you have active water-works in your eyes, you’ll probably leak a few tears of your own.

Score: 88