Wonder Boys
A college professor who smokes weed (and offers it to his students), sleeps with the dean’s wife, chats it up with a transvestite without flinching, and is a best-selling author. Why the hell didn’t I have any profs like that during my career as an undergrad?
The teacher in question is Grady Tripp, played with a deft comic touch by Michael Douglas. About a half-dozen years back, he wrote a critically acclaimed book. Problem is, Grady has developed a serious case of writers’ block - sort of. Instead of not being able to write, though, he can’t focus his thoughts, and his book is now running at more than 2,500 pages.
Enter his editor (Robert Downey Jr.), who makes a trip to town to check up on Grady. Shortly after his arrival, the two head to a university event at the dean’s house, where things take a surprising turn when Grady heads upstairs with the dean’s wife (Frances McDormand) for some hanky panky. But instead of getting busy, she drops a bombshell - she’s pregnant with his child.
Professor Tripp immediately heads outside to immerse himself in some weed. As he’s smoking up, he spots one of his students - the brilliant-but-troubled James Leer (Tobey Maguire), and invites him in. Under his prof’s tutelage, James enjoys his first liquor drinks and subsequently finds himself in some trouble with the law. And did I mention the matter of the murdered dog?
Although this is enough mayhem to fill an entire film, these events take place in the first 30 minutes of Wonder Boys. Steve Kloves’ Oscar-nominated screenplay, based on a novel by Michael Chabon, is a fresh, quirky, original work that’s unlike anything you’ve seen in recent years.
The supporting cast runs the gamut from excellent to subpar. Downey Jr. is often hilarious in his best performance in ages (though that doesn’t mean I’m gonna start watching that f***ing Ally McBeal). Maguire’s performance is tough to judge. His space-cadet routine is similar to his role in The Cider House Rules, making me wonder if he’s a one-note wonder boy. But my gut instinct is that he’s for real, based mainly on the fact that he seems more interesting that most other young actors.
Speaking of young, Dawson’s Creek hottie Katie Holmes shows up in a small role as one of Tripp’s students. She’s mostly eye candy, although you could argue that her character is a temptation that Tripp resists, thereby deepening his character’s moral complexities. I’ll give credit to Holmes for branching out and leave it at that.
But forget about giving credit to McDormand. Will somebody please tell me why she’s considered a good actress? Just when I was starting to give her some props for her solid performance in Almost Famous, she returns to ultra-annoying mode. Her every movie character seems to have this annoyingly quirky retard tic thing going on. Do us a favor, Frances. Tone it down.
Director Curtis Hanson has created a good movie here, although not close to the heights of his last film, the excellent noir thriller, L.A. Confidential. Although some critics were clamoring for a Best Picture nomination for Wonder Boys, the Academy did the right thing (for once) in just recognizing the screenplay.
If the unique story and interesting cast aren’t enough to pique your interest, consider this: Show this movie to one of your profs, and maybe he’ll slip you a doobie next time you’re having some problems.
Send any comments/ feedback to the author.
Considering the amount of liquor and drugs consumed in this movie (by students AND teachers), even your most tight-assed professor might be inspired to indulge.
You’ve got some romance between Douglas and McDormand, young hotties Maguire and Holmes, Robert Downey Jr. and a transvestite. Expect the unexpected.
Buy this movie from Amazon.com
