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Most of the reviews were positive on the change of pace Michael Douglas film, Wonder Boys directed by Curtis Hansen, but frankly I thought they tried too hard, or not hard enough. Douglas (A Perfect Murder) plays college Professor Grady Tripp, a trice wed writing instructor at a small town Liberal Arts College. His current wife just left him. His editor Terry Crabtree played by Robert Downey jr. (Bowfinger) wants Tripp's book that he can't seem to finish. His mistress played by Frances McDormand (Fargo) the Chancellor of his college and the wife of Tripp's boss is pregnant with his child, and this is only one day. Add to the mix grand theft, the untimely death of a dog and homosexuality and you can finish out Tripp's weekend. The audience is hit over the head with classic literature undertones, which is why I feel Wonder Boys was trying too hard. Trying too hard to draw you into the lives of Tripp, Chancellor Sara Gaskell, her husband Walter played by "Johnboy" Richard Thomas, editor Crabtree and wonder student James Leer played by Tobey Maguire (The Cider House Rules). In Tripp's classroom the title Ulysses is written on the top of the blackboard and underneath this title was many sentences used to fill all of the space giving the illusion that great literature was being studied at this college. The problem was none of those sentences contained a singe episode or idea from James Joyce's novel. Tripp's gifted student Leer was probably names after Shakespeare's classic character King Lear and the Chancellor's husbands dog was named Poe, how original for a Dean of English Literature. Tripp's famous novel also resembled other classic literature. This film takes you on an Odyssey not unlike that of Bloom and Odysseus. The classic journey full of tests, distractions, torment, epiphany and a return home. All in all the makings of a fine story, if we weren't force-fed the plot. I was also disappointed that we were not treated to the rear view of Douglas a standard in his films. Then again he is getting really old and that might have been a disappointment in itself. I give Wonder Boys a rating of six couches out of 10.
Last updated: Thursday, March 20, 2008 02:49:42 AM |
