Extraordinary Measures

John Crowley is a hard working father on the verge of major career progress when his two children are diagnosed with Pompe disease, a rare condition that robs the body of its ability to process sugar. With his wife by his side he leaves the corporate track behind and teams with an unconventional physician, Dr. Robert Stonehill, to launch a biotech venture aimed at finding a cure. Stonehill pursues theories that have divided the medical community, courting skepticism even as he presses forward. A stubborn, unlikely partnership grows between the doctor and the father as they push through setbacks in the name of their kids. The movie asks big questions about risk and responsibility.

Directed by Tom Vaughan and released in 2010, Extraordinary Measures is built from a screenplay by Robert Nelson Jacobs and Geeta Anand's reporting on the Crowley family for the Wall Street Journal, translating a real life struggle into screen drama that aims for emotional clarity.

Box office: The film grossed about 15.1 million dollars worldwide against a budget of 31 million, reflecting a modest reception for a drama with familiar faces and a family centered premise that appealed to family audiences across the country today and beyond.

While it did not spark lasting pop culture moments, the film did contribute to public awareness of Pompe disease and the human side of medical research. Viewers see the moral costs, the long hours, and the stubborn hope behind each experiment as the story unfolds in a tangible team effort.

Critics offered mixed notices, praising the performances of Brendan Fraser and Harrison Ford while noting the earnest tone and some sentimentality. The film centers on parental love and perseverance alongside the ethical weight of medical breakthroughs, offering a humane look at a difficult race against time for families facing illness.