I almost gave this film a lower score, or maybe wouldn't have seen it through to the end, if not for Geena Davis’s acting. That makes sense, because she was the reason I decided to watch it in the first place. Ms. Davis is very good at playing unusual characters. Even when she played the strange but assured dog trainer in *The Accidental Tourist*, during serious scenes, her skill shone through. But in *Accidents Happen*, her character has two sides: one that’s whimsical and cheerful, and another that’s angry and withdrawn. It's not easy to portray both aspects so effectively, and she managed it remarkably well. Her behavior is erratic because of the hardships the family has experienced, and we are meant to understand that Billy’s actions stem from similar issues. However, I didn’t find his character convincing. Considering Billy was involved in what happened to his family, while I can accept that guilt could lead to behavioral problems, it felt like too much to ask me to feel sorry for him when he's actively creating difficulties for those around him. And frankly, I didn’t notice any sign of him changing in the last scene with Billy and his neighbor. Thankfully, Geena Davis was there to carry the film.

Source on TMDB