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The Tic Code

Play trailer Poster for The Tic Code R Released Aug 4, 2000 1h 31m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
75% Tomatometer 28 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Life doesn't always deal you a fair hand. The trick is finding a way to play that hand to your advantage. It's a "coming-of-age" lesson that a piano prodigy, his mother, and a famous saxophonist all have to learn. Starring Gregory Hines, Polly Draper, and introducing the remarkable young actor Christopher Marquette. Set to the sensuous rhythms of New York's jazz scene, "The Tic Code" is a tender, romantic, and funny drama about learning to love despite what the real world throws you.
The Tic Code

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Critics Consensus

Though the story is conventional, it's nonetheless sympathetic and credible.

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Critics Reviews

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Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times Starts out self-consciously but gets better as it goes along, winding up as affecting as it is illuminating. Rated: 4/5 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Stephen Holden New York Times Ms. Draper's taut, self-effacing, extremely quiet performance is the best thing about the movie. Rated: 3.5/5 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Wesley Morris San Francisco Examiner The Tic Code is as cute as Tyrone and Miles' spasms, as rote as the melismatic instrumentals that turn up in the movie's nightclubs. Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Rated: 3/5 Dec 4, 2007 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 2/5 Aug 21, 2005 Full Review Paula Nechak Seattle Post-Intelligencer Rated: C+ Apr 3, 2002 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member As a person with Tourette's myself, this movie reminds me that you can still do whatever you want to do in life and be successful, even if you have a disability. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Great premise, script, and jazz soundtrack. This is no Disease of the Week movie and the producers do a nice job of avoiding cliche. Marquette's portrayal of a kid with Tourette's syndrome is spot on. Some scenes are overacted a bit. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member A well written movie about a boy dealing with Tourette's syndrome who also happens to be a musical (jazz pianist) genius. The script by Polly Draper pulls a few punches at times with GREAT acting by Tony Shalhoub. It it interesting that Ms Draper tosses in her theory that 'Thelonious Monk's stage eccentricities may have been signs of undiagnosed Tourette's.' Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member Intelligent, uplifting story. Great acting. Realistic portrayal of Tourettes Syndrome by a very talented young actor. Great music. All around nice movie....good send off for the late Gregory Hines. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member I like this movie it really goes deep and the kid didn't do that bad of a job. I have Tourette's syndrome and I like movies that have some true to it about people who have tourettes. We all don't say inappropriate things. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Audience Member If it seems to have the ingredients of an after-school special, it's also delightfully unsentimental, yet uplifting, and while spinning its wholly credible tale gives its audience quite a bit of knowledge and understanding about kids, an unusual disease, and the universe of jazz musicians. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Tic Code

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Cast & Crew

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Gary Winick

Director

Gregory Hines

Tyrone

Polly Draper

Laura

Chris Marquette

Miles Caraday

Desmond Robertson

Todd

James McCaffery

Michael Caraday

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The Tic Code

Gregory Hines and Christopher George Marquette. Polly Draper and Gregory Hines. Christopher George Marquette and Polly Draper. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Life doesn't always deal you a fair hand. The trick is finding a way to play that hand to your advantage. It's a "coming-of-age" lesson that a piano prodigy, his mother, and a famous saxophonist all have to learn. Starring Gregory Hines, Polly Draper, and introducing the remarkable young actor Christopher Marquette. Set to the sensuous rhythms of New York's jazz scene, "The Tic Code" is a tender, romantic, and funny drama about learning to love despite what the real world throws you.
Director
Gary Winick
Screenwriter
Polly Draper
Distributor
Avalanche Home Entertainment, Lionsgate Films
Production Co
Jazz Films, Inc., Gun for Hire Films
Rating
R (Language)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 4, 2000, Wide
Release Date (DVD)
Aug 19, 2003
Box Office (Gross USA)
$203.8K
Runtime
1h 31m
Sound Mix
Surround