This film ws released in the US box office twice, and did disastrously twice, but is it that bad? No, is the answer to that because it's one of the better films I've seen this year. Funny, clever and in parts slightly disturbing this film is well-above average.
Michael Douglas stars as the lead character Grady Tripp, a middle-aged English Professor. He once wrote a book called The Arsonist's Daughter which was critically acclaimed but that was a long time ago. He is still working on his second, and to say it ain't going well is a slight understatement.
As we join Tripp, we dicover he has just left his wife. Things are looking extremely rosy for Tripp, and things get even better when he dicovers his mistress Sara (Frances McDormand) is pregnant. This is going to be one hell of a weekend!
The film then descends into mayhem, involving two of his students. Hannah (Katie Holmes) rents a room in Tripps house and obviously shines a torch for him, while James(Tobey Maguire) is a smart but extremely disturbing student who finds himself part of the plot aswell.
But Tripp's agent is the real gem in this movie. Waiting desperately for the second novel, Robert Downey Jr. shines as the bisexual agent with some excellent lines and sarcasm so thick you could cut it with a knife.
This film is definitely worth seeing, with some shining performances from Douglas, Maguire and especially from Downey Jr. But be warned, if you want comedy you don't want to think too much about maybe you might want to check out the other videos on offer. It gets slightly complex in places, so have your thinking caps at the ready. Great acting, a good enough plot and some hilarious one-liners. Yup, this is definitely my kind of film (but seemingly not the American public's!).
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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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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Wonder Boys (DVD)
Advantages: Some good performances. Handful of laughs. Downey and Maguire. Disadvantages: Boring at times. Feels it wants to be zany but instead tries for too much sentiment. Bad ending.
Darius 27.05.2001 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
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: Some good performances. Handful of laughs. Downey and Maguire. Disadvantages: Boring at times. Feels it wants to be zany but instead tries for too much sentiment. Bad ending.
Darius 27.05.2001 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Wonder Boys (DVD)