Right this is a difficult film to review because it one of those films you just want to love but something is holding you back. Plus it's the follow up film for Curtis Hanson who directed the briallant (should of won best picture not Titantic) LA confidential.
The film follows Prof. Tripp (Michael Douglas) on a mad weekend that seems to out of control but in a control way that doesn't make it seem that crazy.
Trip is a once wonder boy writer who hasn't fininshed his follow up novel to his first major hit. His gay editor (played excellenty by the tragic Robert Downey Jr) arrives to see the book and attend the university's annual 'WordFest' competition for writers. Just at the same time that his wife leaves him and his girlfriend, his bosses wife, tells him she's pregnant.
Trip teaches at the university a young depressed/deep writer James Leer(Tobey Maguire) who may be the next big thing in writing and the story really gets going when Leer steals a jacket from Tripp's bosses house, a jacket that once belonged to Marilyn Monroe and shoots the man's dog too.
What follows is one thing after another with Tripp trying to finish his new novel which is clocking in at over 2000 pages while getting high, trying to support Leer, thinking about what to do with his pregnant girfriend and her husband's dead dog and stolen jacket.
To say the film is confusing is not correct. Rather it is easy to follow and understand but the comedy never really reaches it's full potential. The whole film seems to be under played, mainly by Douglas, and it would make more fun to watch if Tripp lost it completly. It plays more like a poor Jerry Magiure, lacking the charm, great performances, comedy and heart.
There are a few characters that seem thrown in for little reason. Katie Holmes (of Dawson's Creek) plays a student living at Tripp's house but does very little but flirt with him and then disappears.
The film is funny at times but you leave the film feeling you've watched something that could have been so much more, I felt let down. Especially by the sudden ending which doesn't give you an ultimate payoff. Tripp doesn't appear to face his problems and was it all just the writing of a novel.
It's not a terrible film but more of a waste. It's not a repeat viewing film and no classic but it is enjoyable in parts and Tobey Magiure and Downey JR show how good of actors they are up against old timer Douglas.
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Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Wonder Boysis one of those films in which more twists and turns disrupt the life of the ... more
hero in one weekend than would bother most of us our whole lives. Professor Grady Tripp (Michael Douglas) is an aging one-novel wunderkind at a small Pittsburgh col...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
An unfinished novel a stolen car a murdered pet and a failing marriage are just a few of ... more
the crises piling up like a logjam in this often hilarious story of bright promise gone awry. During a single hectic weekend college professor Grady Tripp (Mic...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
An unfinished novel a stolen car a murdered pet and a failing marriage are just a few of ... more
the crises piling up like a logjam in this often hilarious story of bright promise gone awry. During a single hectic weekend college professor Grady Tripp (Mic...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: Comical, interesting and enjoyable. Disadvantages: Loose ends intentionally left at end of film may leave some viewers feeling slightly cheated.
michaelcrook 18.04.2001 (16.04.2001)
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Review of Wonder Boys (DVD)
Advantages: The sharp script and lead performance from Micheal Douglas, well supported by a fine cast. Disadvantages: This won't appeal to some and can drag in a few places.
Mercury 18.06.2001 (18.06.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Wonder Boys (DVD)
Advantages: Comical, interesting and enjoyable. Disadvantages: Loose ends intentionally left at end of film may leave some viewers feeling slightly cheated.
michaelcrook 18.04.2001 (16.04.2001)
·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Wonder Boys (DVD)
![Wonder Boys [DVD] [2000]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78523971.jpg "Wonder Boys [DVD] [2000]")
May 27th, 2001
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