Wonderful World (2009) User Reviews

Even The Vacuous Get Lucky

[tele-cine · 6/10 · 19 December 2009]

I applaud Wonderful World for approaching a number of complex social situations that few light-hearted movies touch on. Yet, I felt a bit cheated to find that the final plot resolution was little more than a romantic comedy adaptation of the now banal, "There's no place like home." Yes, boys and girls, they had a marvelous adventure on their enchanted journey, but "All's well, that ends well" when they wake up, in their own beds, to realize the whole wacky excursion was just a silly old dream.

Much time is spent developing the suspicious, cynical, stuck-in-a-rut man that Matthew Broderick plays. All the while, we are led to believe he possesses such innate talent and goodness. The female co-star was portrayed as offering "magic" and spontaneity, in contrast to his indolence. However, at the crucial moment this script disappoints as both of the main players prove incapable of rising above stereotype. The ending was not exactly "happily ever after". Still, it doesn't seem probable to me that their newfound affinity would just implode in such an autonomic spasm of conclusive normalcy. Even in fiction, when there's only hope of more hope, the tightrope balancing of expectation against the commonplace is in itself a letdown.

Wherever it is, you won't see it in this movie

[vesil_vesalier · 5/10 · 29 September 2016]

It's hard to listen to Louis Armstrong's "It's a Wonderful World" and not feel a mixture of happiness on one side because of the beauty of the music, and pain on the other because of just how much of the world that has been revealed to us as being anything but "wonderful".

The title for this movie is "Wonderful World", but the version I saw on Netflix I believe was "Happiness", or something to that effect.

Yeah, well, neither of those titles actually fit THIS film.

Matthew Broderick lost something when he turned to adulthood. Maybe he got too serious. Maybe he got too much money, early on. Maybe nobody wants to push him anymore as an actor, for some reason. Whatever it is, Matthew Broderick left his best work back in the years when he was Ferris Bueller. Since then, I feel nothing when I watch him on film, because he never brings the punch when he acts anymore. The closest I saw in this movie was when he was playing guitar in the music shop (at least I THINK it was a music shop. Maybe a diner? You know, I just don't remember. It was a social gathering where he played guitar, okay?) and even in that scene he didn't do much.

In this movie, we see him being a man with a chip on his shoulder. He's frustrated with the world, distrustful of others, loving to his daughter and eventually his room-mate's sister once she comes to check on her sibling, and plays guitar pretty good, enough to publish a CD but not enough to make it big, I guess? The constant plot devices dropped on you like bombs throughout the film are manipulative, pushing your emotions in different directions while also twiddling with the laws of logic—you think he's going to win, finally, when he sues the tow truck company for not helping his friend when his life was in danger. You even have the set-up of the imaginary man that Broderick is speaking to on the bench, suggesting that maybe this will actually work (though it is never clear as to WHY he's there, or if he's anything more than just a bad drug trip, considering Broderick's most constant hobby is smoking weed). When it doesn't, it's just a reinforcement of the constant stream of depressing events that, well… Make you understand why this guy has a chip on his shoulder.

He loses his best friend. His defensiveness causes him to push away the only love interest he has in the movie. Even his daughter wants nothing to do with him, though it's suggested that the reason has something to do with him watching hockey on TV instead of taking her to real games (which he does at the end, in a kind of "see? This is how you get happy!" ending).

The only resolutions he gets are to take his friend's body back to his homeland, where he can give his old girlfriend closure. He can see the tiny fish in the puddles in the surrounding grass that was somehow supposed to be a sign of hope, mentioned to him earlier in the film (though I don't understand why. The fish can't swim anywhere, because they aren't actually in a body of water, so… Doesn't that mean they die?). He takes his daughter to a real hockey game, which is, I guess, all she really needed from him, somehow? His semi-friend co-worker with an odd way of talking to people sets him up with a gig playing his guitar for kids, and everything is happy again with the world, him giving the weakest smile I have ever seen anyone give to the camera as he sits on his stool and holds his guitar.

I hope this isn't some new concept in movies, where the protagonist gets screwed throughout the movie, and then at the end just smiles and shrugs his shoulders as we move to the credits. The suggestion, I guess, is that he wasn't living his life to the fullest, so going through this changes his mind, somehow… But nothing actually happens that is serious enough to suggest that.

Nothing in this movie worked for me. It's not funny enough to make me really laugh. It's not charming enough to make me really feel the love. It's not dramatic enough to make me really feel any punch from any of the characters. And it's not meaningful enough to surpass its logical flaws with any real reason for a change of character.

Define wonderful. Whatever you come up with, this film is not it.

Listen Carefully

[lch100 · 6/10 · 20 December 2009]

This is a problem often found in films where characters speak with foreign accents. There is a key conversation between Ben Singer (Broderick) and Ibu (Williams) over a chess game earlier in the film. The director didn't have the experience to slow the cadence so that the audience can hear AND understand. Consequently, some of the conversation is lost in the struggle to parse the words. Unfortunately, that dialog becomes key to the most powerful scene of the film which takes place very near the end. So, my advice is to listen carefully Otherwise, it's a good film, though the pace slows enough to suggest it's not going anywhere during the middle of the film.

Remarkable!

[dancameraman · 23 December 2009]

This is a smart, satisfying film, and a triumph for Broderick. We haven't seen such a great anti-establishment hero since The Big Lebowski.

All the characters are brilliantly written by Goldin, and, likewise, brilliantly portrayed by the actors. Matthew Broderick's performance as Ben Singer has an assured and measured nuance -- a really fine role. Michael Williams (Ibu) shows his impressive range with a wonderful character, so distinct from his iconic Omar on The Wire. Sanaa Lathan's Khadi is a strong memorable sensual beauty. Twelve year old Jodelle Ferland as Sandra, Ben's daughter, is a revelation and certainly a comer.

Wonderful World will make you laugh and it will make you cry. You want to go see this flick.

cynical Broderick

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 17 October 2015]

Ben Singer (Matthew Broderick) is a bitter cynic who is stuck in a dead-end job and always railing against his imaginary The Man (Philip Baker Hall). He's divorced from Eliza (Ally Walker) and his daughter Sandra (Jodelle Ferland) is struggling in all the negativity. His only friend and Senegalese roommate Ibou (Michael K. Williams) falls into a diabetic coma. His car gets towed after a complaint by an uncaring neighbor. Ibou's sister Khadi (Sanaa Lathan) arrives from Senegal. Ben's workmate Cyril (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) finds out that he used to be a successful kid entertainer and tries to befriend him.

Despite Ben's relentless cynicism, I still kind of like him. Matthew Broderick has that kind of world weariness from his performance in Election. This is a black comedy but I don't necessarily find it funny. It's actually sincere in its misanthropic vision. I like his relationship with his daughter. There are holes in his life story. The character was once a successful man. There must be a wealth of material to dig into from that situation. Also I think his relationship with Khadi could be resolved better.

Bottom Line, this is an interesting cynic's lament but it could have been funnier.

TYPICAL INDIE PLOT

[nogodnomasters · 6/10 · 26 June 2019]

Don't use my rating as a guide to how much you will like the film. Prior to watching this film I watched "Humboldt County", another Magnolia film. While different, they all run the same. There is one main character who has a big character flaw caused by the "system." He undergoes a series of life changing events, changes his outlook, and lives happily ever after. Toss in a divorced family and a cute daughter beyond her years in mental maturity and you have a Magnolia film.

In this movie, Bill Singer (Matthew Broderick) is a pessimist who doesn't trust anyone and goes through the whole movie with the same 3 day growth on his face. He never shaves, nor does his beard grow out, perhaps a metaphor for his life stuck in neutral. He was once a singer of children's songs, but never made it big enough to be successful. His roommate goes into a diabetic coma and Broderick gets fired from his job. Meanwhile, his daughter, living with her mother and beyond her years in maturity, doesn't want to spend her weekends with Broderick, because he is a pessimist!!!!

While his roommate (and best friend) is in the hospital, roomies' hot sister comes to visit. They bump dirty parts and she has an effect on his life too...ad nauseum. Yes it is heart warming, enjoyable, funny at times, bittersweet, blah blah blah. There are some scenes where Broderick imagines himself talking to "the man" who looks a lot like Philip Baker Hall. .

Sweet and slightly quirky

[bdgill12 · 6/10 · 13 July 2011]

Ben Singer (Matthew Broderick) is a cynical, depressed copywriter who used to be a famous children's musician. He hates his job and most of the people in his life, save for his daughter, Sandra (Jodelle Ferland), and his roommate, Ibu (Michael K. Williams), whom he plays chess with. When Ibu falls into a diabetic coma, his sister, Khadi (Sanaa Lathan), comes from Senegal and ends up crashing with Ben. As the world around him begins to grow darker, Ben finds himself reawakening and rediscovering his life and finds that the world isn't quite as bad as he thought it was.

I am pleasantly surprised by the quality of "Wonderful World." A lot of these "the world sucks but our hero prevails" indie movies wallow in despair, making them almost unwatchable. "Wonderful" more than touches on the harsh parts of life but paints with a broad brush rather than a fine point, which I personally appreciated. It's a well-told story and writer-director Joshua Golden keeps the movie moving without drowning me in the sorrow. That's not to say this is an easy movie to watch. It's 70 percent sadness and that makes for a tough viewing but one that I found worthwhile. Broderick works hard to craft a sympathetic curmudgeon, a different role than his usual cheery if understated hero. The supporting cast compliments him well though Williams, one of the very best character actors the business has to offer, was severely underutilized. "Wonderful World" is far from a great movie; it's a bit bumpy and at times the emotion feels forced. Still, it's a strong-enough indie offering and it's always good to see Broderick on the screen.

Check out my site, The Soap Box Office: www.thesoapboxoffice.blogspot.com

Each scene worse than the one before!

[ramito-1 · 2/10 · 17 August 2010]

I am only writing a review because I cannot let stand the positive notices here. Someone else will come along and be floored that any 2 people could find this cliché fest anything but annoying. Unbelievable, dumb, trite, a hack. Pu-leeze, my wife & I sat through this because we could not believe how bad it was - but it just kept getting worse, right to the end! On the plus side the little girl who played the daughter was good. But nothing makes up for the pain of seeing Michael K. Williams - who was GREAT as Omar Little in The Wire - in this dreck- fest.

OK, don't believe me - rent this film, watch it - but don't say you weren't warned!

Dour and apathetic Broderick not so Wonderful.

[jefflouvre-435-77367 · 2/10 · 25 September 2012]

'WONDERFUL World' comes in a long line of movies about the rejuvenating powers of black people. In fact, it's views of race are similar to France's The Intouchables, the winner of the Best Foreign Film at the Oscars this year, and many, many more flicks of this nature.

Another beef I have with the movie is its date of release. It's reaching Malaysian shores after three years, and disguised as an 'international movie' to give it an aura of respectability.

In 'Wonderful World', writer-director Joshua Goldin puts Ben Singer (Matthew Broderick) at the lowest possible moment in his life and then drags him out the pit with the help of Ibu (Michael K. Williams) and his sister Khadi (Sanaa Lathan). Ben is shown taking an elevator going down, metaphorically saying that his life is going downhill.

Ben used to harbour hopes of making it big as a children's musician, but a record company let him down and he's now a proofreader in a law firm. His pessimistic view of life does not make him popular among his colleagues, who shun him and don't call him to after-office events.

His ex-wife Eliza (Ally Walker) married a wealthy guy. When asked if she's happy with her good life now, she says that she didn't enjoy seeing life through his eyes, but she's now happy with what she sees. His daughter, Sandra (Jodelle Ferland), 11, is bored with him and even avoids him.

His only decent contact with the world is his Senegalese roommate Ibu, who beats him at chess and offers deep thoughts of the world. Viewers get a whiff of what's to come.

One thing leads to another and the diabetic Ibu is hospitalised when he falls into a coma. His sister comes from Senegal to take care of him. She also warms Ben's toes in bed at night.

Ben suddenly finds a higher purpose in life. Khadi lights candles to encourage spirits to look over her sick brother, she cooks down-to-earth food and even teaches Ben's daughter to dance with without a care in the world.

If Ben suddenly begins to believe in life, viewers will find it hard to believe that Khadi could fall for Ben. Perhaps there's something to be said about opposites attract, as the vivacious Khadi is poles apart from the miserable Ben.

Broderick's hangdog face and expression are competent, but the movie saddles him with boring dialogue.

www.jeffleemovies.com

Wonderful movie

[shayup · 8/10 · 4 May 2009]

This is one of those quiet, well made movies that usually don't make any money. However, it makes you think. It makes you think about your life, what you have to be thankful for and how life's events dictate how you feel about yourself. This is a very well written, clever, idealistic script by Joshua Goldin. He also does a great job in directing it. I hope that this movie gets the opportunity for wide release sometime soon.

Matthew Broderick plays the title role and it's his best role in a very long time, probably since Election. He finally has an opportunity to explore a character and his transformation from pessimist to optimist is quite enjoyable as well as touching to witness. He is surrounded by a great supporting cast, Sanna Lathan, who is a beautiful and strong Sengalese woman he is touched by. Also, Jodelle Ferland, who has such terrific chemistry with Broderick that it's a such a joy to watch their scenes.

I highly recommend this movie.

Sore disappointment

[Pogostemon · 2/10 · 15 October 2009]

The lack of craft,wit, and authenticity of this film were sore disappointments. I won't even denigrate Afterschool Specials by comparing them to this tripe. I was looking forward to something, anything that would ring true, but it never came (except the face of Jodelle Ferland, the young daughter, who should get lots more roles in the future.) This cheese-fest is not the fault of the actors. (But I wonder, wasn't the director able to locate any first-generation Africans, preferably from the cultural group being depicted, to play those key leading characters? These performances were a bit jarring.) If you like being hit on the head with a plastic inflatable hammer decorated with cartoon drawings of cultural stereotypes, this movie is for you.

Pretty bad movie

[jenniferhagan · 20 October 2011]

This movie was pretty bad. Number one, the "Africans" they found were African Americans and their accents were so damned dodgy that I don't know where they came from but it sure wasn't from Senegal. Secondly, the vision of the director was that of precolonial Africa. This family is from Dakar. They aren't from a remote village. Senegal has strong ties with France. You can get Nikes in Senegal. It is just cheaper in the US. This movie is not only flawed because it is a cliché of every vision that we Americans that never travel abroad have of the outside world. It could have been better. It could have been better translated. The story could have been more modern, less cliché, less Hollywood and let us think a bit on our own. Dear director. Not all of us are that stupid. We can think for ourselves.

More American self-worship

[CutUncut2021 · 1/10 · 9 December 2023]

This disneyfication of the Other with its cutesy storyline is an affront to Wolof culture, and notably never mentions the majority national religion (Allah forbid!) or former colonial administrative language (French). If you've ever lived or spent downtime with Senegalese people you'll cringe at every twist and turn, starting with the quietly "noble" intellectual Ibou who plays chess (egad!) and speaks in sapient aphorisms, to Khadi's dress style, of which the Nikes are just a further insult (brand salvation!). This is classic American redemption pap, and the casting choice of the left-handed Broderick underdog with his tiny eyes and sour little mouth is the perfect foil for an impossible tale: as represented here, Khadi is a gross travesty of everything Senegalese, even of the more westernized female subjects of the diaspora. And with his trite little guitar tune repeated three of four times, Ben confirms that he is a talentless misanthrope that probably deserves his fate as failed husband and fired proofreader. Just as things might pick up with the court case and Ibou's emergence from coma, the film stalls yet again, fails to gel: acting talent wasted, ideas wasted. Writing the entire story in reverse, focusing on Ibou, with Ben as a mere accessory, might just give rise to a movie worth watching, instead of this schmaltzy unauthentic dross of American self-worship that seeks "redemption" in every corner, in this case at the expense of anything Other. With the next presidential inauguration, the invocation should be "God Save America" (from itself).

Slow and uninspired...

[imseeg · 5/10 · 11 May 2021]

Beware all you Matthew Broderick fans, this is NOT a funny movie, because it is a slowburning portrait about a grumpy, middle aged, divorced man, stuck in a a dead end job. Quite depressing...

The bad: this movie is slow, very SLOW and kinda depressing. I dont mind slow or even depressing when it is a heavy drama, but I DO mind boring and this movie is undoubtedly BORING.. There is no real drama either to speak of. So what's left? The acting isnt great either, I mean for such a character portrait movie like this, the acting should be up there, but the acting is just average.

More bad: although it is not meant to be comedy, there are still some tongue in cheek jokes, but they fall flat as well. This whole movie feels so uninspired and slow.

Not any good? Well, the movie has got a happy end, but in the end this is one of the weakest movies that Matthew Broderick has ever starred in. He just aint suited for making slowburning "dramas". Better watch any older (eighties/nineties) movie with Matthew Broderick in it, there are lots of them, which are truly hilariously funny!

Very sweet and inspiring film.

[amelaus29 · 10/10 · 15 May 2010]

I found this film to very well written and directed. The story is about the life we all lead and all its obstacles, which are superbly edited to show them to us, but not too grimly.

It pats you on the back relatively quickly with elements that seem extraordinary but really are natural phenomenons and not to be taken seriously. It generously shows how seeing the world in such a way can impact harshly on you, but how you still learn from the experience.

It grasps upon the warmth and clarity that can be gained from truly compatible relationships when looking at the world through these eyes, in this way, it presents a seek and you shall find attitude.

The ending is... well when you find the end, there will be the beginning. One of my favorite films.

How very true!

[torrentstorm · 10/10 · 21 December 2009]

I tend to see the true story and plot, and very well, because you see, it is many people's story. Hey! it is, to a large extent, my story in parts.

Ben is like many of us - a washed-out entertainer who has developed a cynical view or life, and a jaded point of view with many issues. The fact that he loses his job, loses communication with his only daughter, is forced to deliver pizza, does not help the man's character, but embitters it. I can relate to that. Like Ben, I am a thinker, who does not believe in taking things lying down. I would have gone all the way like he did when the city tow truck towed his car just when his dear Senegalese friend Ibou relapsed into diabetic shock and needed to get to a hospital.

But then, when Ibou's sister Khadi came from Senegal to help take care of him, changes sparked in Ben, slowly at first, almost imperceptible, then more and more pronounced. How could you not fall in love with the curvy Khadi, with her beautiful raw African features, her womanly confidence and her vision of "magic"? No pretentiousness here, no overbearing or meddling - quite the contrary. You tend to admire the inner strength of such women, so akin to their culture and ways of life. I once met a woman like that from Nigeria, whose brother worked as an Engineer in the local Shell corp. The way she moved, her similar dress and grooming, made me look twice and say: "Now THAT is a woman!" Sadly, as in Ben's case, yes, such a relationship is fraught with difficulties, chiefly because of the distance between 2 Worlds. She was uncomfortable in our 'civilized' World, and Ben would not be able to adapt well in hers. Besides, he wanted to resurrect his singing career, and Senegal would not have been the right place, maybe. That too was my case with the girl in question.. However, by then Ben understood 2 things - one of them being that he was a good man, a man without racial prejudice, open, simple and unpretentious. Such men are hard to come by these days. The second thing he realized I will not say. I will leave you to view the movie, and come to your own conclusions.

So it's not the stomping, heart-throbbing drama like you see in other movies, but it will keep you interested and thinking all the way, and that, my friends, is basically what a good story is all about. Fine acting, plausible story, so true to real life. Well worth the 10 points!

A Truly Moving Film

[Filmgrrrl · 10/10 · 22 December 2009]

I saw this movie at the Tribeca Film Festival this past spring, and I was truly moved. It reminds me of "It's a Wonderful Life", one of those movies that really touches the soul. It's the story of a man who gets tripped up by his own negativity (reminds me of my husband!), but is actually a good person, and yearns to connect. It features Matthew Broderick's best performance since "Election", and I cried at the end. As did my two friends who came with me. We were totally unprepared to be so swept away by emotion. So many films these days are mindless crap, but this one is authentic and honest, and very very funny. I want the soundtrack too!

Also for "The Wire" fans, it also stars Omar, a.k.a Michael Williams, one of the greatest actors working today.

The Find of the Year

[ariposner · 10/10 · 24 December 2009]

A dramatic gem. "Wonderful World" gives Matthew Broderick his meatiest and most interesting role in years, and showcases the remarkably assured directorial debut of Josh Goldin (who also wrote the classically spare and powerful screenplay). Goldin finds true uplift where most filmmakers might have stumbled into cliché. His story of culture clash and class disharmony, about someone who considers himself "the most negative man in the world," was never anything less than moving and gave me that rarest of experiences in a movie theater: I didn't just love the film, I came out of it wanting to be a better person.

The first half of this movie finds Broderick as an almost jarringly flawed character, an alienated children's singer, struggling with divorce, doing a mediocre job raising his teen daughter, and sinking into self- defeating pessimism. That he manages to overcome these obstacles, and truly regenerate himself, without our feeling as if the movie makers pandered to our craving for a happy ending, is truly remarkable. In part he finds hope in an offbeat relationship with his former-roommate's sister, played with earthy sexuality and witty grace by Sanaa Lathan. But this is really much more than a story of a depressed man being reborn through romance. Goldin has made a touching parable about taking action, about caring for others being the linchpin of happiness in this world.

I can't say too much more about the story, for fear of spoiling its powerful ending, but I defy anyone not to be moved.

Jodelle Ferland is a complete find as the daughter Broderick's character cannot seem to connect with. But it is Broderick himself who steals the show. He has long been one of our most underrated actors, a master of the ordinary devoid of on screen vanity. And not since "Election" have I seen him carry a film so worthy of his skills. His performance is the stuff folks give out awards for, and he should be nominated come Oscar season, along with his director, if this truly is... a wonderful world.

A misanthropic singer struggles to release bitterness for the world and find hope and companionship.

[edunsky · 10/10 · 3 January 2010]

Wonderful World is a complete pleasure, and an increasingly rare experience in American movies: A truly real and thoroughly enjoyable story about real people. It is about what happens when bitterness is replaced with hope, and when anger for the world turns to understanding. And although it has plenty of laughs, it is at its core both a compelling love story and a story about the importance of friendship. This is a perfect role for Matthew Broderick, who doesn't generally find material of this quality to work with. I'm looking forward to the next film from Josh Goldin, for whom this directing debut is a great accomplishment and hopefully a harbinger of more and even better things to come. Seems it took him a while to get this first directing gig off the ground, which makes one wonder, when contemplating all the slick formulaic cynical product that usually pours like vomit from the throat of Hollywood. Wonderful World is a closely observed story with a big heart. Go see it -- it will make you feel good.

An Unexpected Gem

[sanden-616-529133 · 10/10 · 23 December 2009]

I wasn't sure what to expect but I loved this thoughtful drama. The cast is terrific, especially Matthew Broderick and Sanaa Lathan. Who knew Michael K. Williams (THE WIRE) could play a guy with such heart.

I cared about every relationship in this film. It's not just a love story between Ben (Matthew Broderick) and Khadi (Sanaa Lathan). It's a story about how all the imperfect but human relationships in Ben's life (his daughter, his roommate) force him out of his protective, cynical shell. I won't spoil anything but I got definitely got teary eyed in parts. It's a subtle and moving film but thankfully there's some humor in it as well. It's a little gem.

Makes you laugh, makes you cry, makes you think

[joerock40 · 10/10 · 4 January 2010]

A quietly profound and touching story with plenty of humor along the way, "Wonderful World" is a rare gem in today's movie marketplace. First time director Josh Goldin delivers a strong message about what's wrong with our world -- and about what's right with it as well. I found the struggles of Broderick's (initially) cynical character very raw and challenging but also believable and sympathetic. Broderick himself brings a sensitivity, depth and intensity to this role that, for me, goes beyond anything he's done before except maybe just maybe "Election." His journey through this wonderful world leaves us with a lot to think about and is a credit to all involved in bringing this memorable film to life.

Like a Bill Murray movie without Bill Murray

[rooprect · 3 September 2011]

If you've seen a recent Bill Murray movie (Broken Flowers, etc) maybe you know what I'm talking about. Movies like this carry a certain vibe that's hard to explain... they feel cold, lonely, witty but sad and slightly nostalgic.

I suppose it's because there's a lot of silence, not a lot of emotion (despite emotional circumstances), and the scenes are bright but not colourful. If you've ever been in a hospital waiting room, that's the feeling.

"Wonderful World" is one of those films about a-day-in-the-life-of-a-schmuck, which are generally fun to watch (the best being "Buffalo 66"... if you haven't seen it GO SEE IT NOW). But I was left a little unfulfilled by WW. I think it's because it portrays the world as a really nasty, unjust place. Sure, that's whole the point of a-day-in-the-life-of-a-schmuck movies, but in this case it was just torturous.

I also thought Matthew Broderick was slightly miscast. Through no fault of his own, he has too much of a youthful, innocent look to come across as a bitter cynic, which is what this film demanded. Still, his acting was excellent (absolutely brilliant in some scenes), and if you like Broderick it'll be fun to see him in this very uncharacteristic role.

If you like slow & heavy comedy-dramas like "The Weather Man" or "Magnolia" or possibly "The Majestic" (though these films are not really comedies), you might like "Wonderful World".

Revisiting Angst

[gradyharp · 9/10 · 10 January 2010]

While many may place this little film in the same category as the critically acclaimed THE VISITOR from last year (depressed man finds redemption in his association with foreigners), which is not necessarily a bad place to be. Joshua Goldin has written and directed a low budget Indie film that opts for a story about human emotions rather than CGI effects or vampire stories and the result is a moving experience.

Ben Singer (Matthew Broderick) is a depressed pessimist: his is divorced, sees his only daughter Sandra (Jodelle Ferland) weekly but transfers his state of mind that the world is a weary place to live with her. He works as a proofreader and shares the rent for his tiny apartment with a Senegalese man, Ibu (Michael K. Williams), with whom he passes the evenings playing chess. Ibu suffers from diabetes but despite his need for daily injections of insulin manages to bring what little light there is into Ben's world. At one point Ibu lapses into diabetic coma and must be hospitalized and Ben's genuine concern for his friend causes him to be absent form his work - and the subsequent loss of his eight year long boring stint as a proofreader. Ben contacts Ibu's sister Khadi (Sanaa Latham) in Senegal and she travels to be with her brother - and to, by need, live in Ben's apartment. Khadi is kind and eventually finds her way into Ben's frozen heart. Khadi suggests that the only way for her to remain in America is to obtain a green card - which suggests that the two be married. Ben's negative outlook on the world almost destroys one of the few warm relationships he has. Khadi returns to Senegal when Ibu dies and the transformation in real feelings Ben discovers begins a new look at the 'glass half empty' philosophy.

Matthew Broderick is exceptionally fine in this role and Williams, Latham, and Ferland contribute excellent support. Joshua Goldin found it necessary to insert a God-like character (Philip Baker Hall) who is seen only by Ben and this seems an unnecessary trick that isn't really needed to make this story flow. But that is a small flaw in an otherwise very touching movie.

Grady Harp

Seamless

[nimdais · 10/10 · 19 January 2010]

All too often post-movie talk consists of dissecting the acting/writing/special effects/fill in the blank – not here. Wonderful World was seamless and allowed me to fully enjoy the story. While Ben's rejection of the world is all too understandable, he suffers from the consequences of that choice. One of the most difficult was his attenuated relationship with his daughter who lives with his ex - it is heartbreaking in the way that any parent can understand and it was really great to see Ben allow the struggle with that loss in a way that he did not fully allow in other parts of his life. His summary dismissal from the law firm where he worked for over eight years was all too real in today's world. Ben's affair with Khadi was a great vehicle and I loved the way it was resolved. All in all, a story well told that I'd be pressed to start picking apart. I would easily recommend this movie.

Broderick & Lahtan shine in this dramedy for the '10s

[george.schmidt · 8/10 · 11 January 2010]

WONDERFUL WORLD (2010) *** Matthew Broderick, Sanaa Lathan, Michael K. Williams, Jodelle Ferland, Philip Baker Hall, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ally Walker. Broderick is in fine form as a jaded, misanthropic former singer/songwriter of children's' tunes whose lack of ambition is only exceeded by his self-loathing and apathy of everyone and everything. One fateful day awakens him to new possibilities when his Senegalese roomie (Williams) suffers a diabetic shock to the system/coma and new hope arrives in the form of his comely sister (Lathan equally good here) who comes to stay with Broderick awaiting out the progress reports. What follows is a relatively well-acted dramedy with some intriguing looks at just how the socio-economic status is so in flux with what should be right and should be wrong thanks to novice director Joshua Goldin's sharply etched screenplay. The film's only falter is the ill-advised use of an imaginary character, "The Man" (veteran character actor Baker Hall) who is pretty much forgotten in the process.