The Tic Code

Here, the young boy is played by the very talented Christopher George Marquette, who does an incredible job of conveying the agony of one who suffers from Tourette Syndrome. His performance is so terrific and rings so true that, at times, I wondered if he, in fact, had the illness. The role of Tyrone is well played by Gregory Hines, who is wonderful in the role of the musician who has Tourette Syndrome but does not want to speak of it. Polly Draper, as the boy's mother, is excellent, as she struggles to cope with her son's illness and its effect on his psyche. She also has a budding romance with Tyrone, until he allows the issue of his affliction to get in the way.

Ms. Draper also did an excellent job of scripting this movie, as it is never maudlin but, rather, a wonderful treatment of a little known illness. The jazz that Miles and Tyrone both love to play is well integrated with the issue of Tourette Syndrome. The threads of the story are woven together seamlessly. All in all, it is an excellent drama. Look for cameo roles by Camryn Manheim and Carol Kane.


Ticcer who soooo related to The Tic Code   May 31, 2002
Stephanie Schroeder (Brooklyn, NY United States)
14 out of 15 found this review helpful

As a person with Tourette Syndrome (Touretter), I laughed, cried and had a knot in the middle of my stomach as I saw my childhood flash before my eyes in this film that explores differenece in various ways: Tourette Syndrome, obviously, but also isolation and lonliness, emotional withdrawl and barriers to intimacy, past bad relationships and breaking through a wall of a lifetime of hurt, anger and danger.

I would recommend this film to anyone who cares about LIFE in a larger sense. The portrayal of Miles, the young boy w/Tourette is touching and extremely compelling--very true to life. Polly Draper and Gergory Hines make a credible couple, coming together, dancing for fleeting moments and then glancing off each other like mercury before a union that makes complete sense on many levels.

Please buy this vidoe or DVD and support a widening of understanding of not only Tourette Syndrome, but of difference in all its implications.


Blown Away.............   June 17, 2001
grneyesnl@aol.com (Littleton, CO United States)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

While searching for a video today, I found The Tick Code. I knew nothing about this movie, but I knew I enjoyed Gregory Hines and was passionate about Jazz...What more could I want? I was pleasantly surprised when there was a third element to this movie - Tourettes Syndrome.

Miles (played by Christopher Goerge Marquette) is a 12yr old boy living in NY and the brunt of his school mates jokes, and an embarassment to his father. Miles lives with his single mother (played by Polly Draper) and is an incredibly gifted pianist, whose choice of music is Jazz. Miles meets jazz saxophonist Tyrone (played by Gregory Hines) and becomes enchanted with the person/musician. (who also has Tourettes)

Tourettes as a subject is difficult to deal with at best, but this movie does a splendid job of educating the viewer about what it is like to live with this disease.

Christopher George Marquette is superb in his role of Miles. Gregory Hines will not disappoint anyone in his performance and Polly Draper as the mother (and writer of the movie) shows us how heartbreaking it is and how strong one must be to mother a child with Tourettes. The music is wonderful and the sound track will be a must to those who love fine jazz.


very good   March 6, 2001
YVETTE MOHILL (chicago)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

this is a movie i have being waiting to see for a long time. i finally did rent it. i thought it was great. i could of been easily turned into a standard diease of the week type movie but it was not. the perfomrance were great espically the kid.also it has great jazz musci flowing thru out the flim.the only liitle quibble that i have is that the flim had a whole bunch of swearing giving it an r rating. if not for this kids who are myles ageand have tourettes. could have enjoyed.