Review of Wonder Boys (2000) by Martin D — 24 Feb 2010

There is something sad and sweet about a story where the mentor is just as lost as the young soul he is supposedly guiding.

Wonder Boys is a story of two literary wunderkinds, one young and just beginning his journey and one well past his days of glory. The elder played by Michael Douglas is playing "mentor" at a small Pennsylvania college to his young promising student played by Tobey McGuire.

Douglas' character, a man once so highly touted as an accomplished author at such a young age is having the worst time finishing his follow-up work so many years later. Single pages are becoming stack and stacks of words with no clear path and no end in sight. He's under pressure from his publisher (Robert Downey Jr) and personal pressures from the love of his life (Frances McDormand) who just so happens to be married to someone else. :) Ouch... this is no longer a fun life I'm guessing.

Despite some very odd happenings and what seems like a tad too much "quirkiness" at times, this film moves at a pace that makes it seem quite plausible and very real. It's not a thigh-slapping romp or a hysterical take on college life. Instead it takes the audience through one long weekend of real life-altering happenings, some discoveries and a heck of a lot of growing up (regardless of the characters age)in a short period of time.

A really fantastic cast makes this film well worth watching.

I don't count Michael Douglas among my personal favorites but he really is quite good as Professor Tripp. And what can you say about Downey Jr and McDormand that hasn't already been said? Nothing except I believe this was one of Downey Jr's first (at the time) that he didn't appear to be having a good time just because of any ... outside influence... if ya know what I mean. :).

I have to admit the first time I saw this film, I wasn't moved entirely. It took me a second go round to truly appreciate it and all its little charms. Now I find I put it on whenever it's on cable even if just to have it on in the background. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. And if you have seen it and it didn't "move you" :) I'd recommend giving it another go. You might just be surprised. I was.