Wonder Boys Review

Grady Tripp, (Michael Douglas), teaches English at a Philadelphia university; some years before he had written a highly regarded book, and now he`s struggling, not very successfully, to complete a second. Tripp is in the middle of a mid life crisis. His wife has left him. His mistress Frances McDormand, the University Chancellor and wife of his boss is pregnant by him and her dog hates him. His gay editor, Robert Downey Jr, wants to know how the book`s coming along. A young student, Katie Holmes, who rents a room in his house has the hots for him. Despite all this, Tripp`s main problem is another student, James Leer, Tobey Maguire, who might be another wonder boy, but whose complicated sexual and personal life badly needs a helping hand.Curtis Hanson moves effortlessly from suspense films to this extremely witty comedy-drama; Steve Kloves adaption of Michael Chabon`s novel proves fine material for him. Always great with actors, Hanson gives Michael Douglas the space to play a painfully real character, sometimes funny, sometimes anguished; and Douglas is superbly supported by the other members of the cast - Robert Downey Jr. is particularly good as the flaky editor. Wonder Boys is smart and immensely entertaining - and just the film for anyone looking for sophisticated material which hasn`t been dumbed down for the shopping mall audienceMargaret`s Comments:Curtis Hanson moved his reputation as a director up a notch when he made LA Confidential after the more mundane The Hand That Rocks The Cradle and The River Wild, so expectations were high for this his latest effort. This is another literary adaptation but one which shows its origins much more than LA Confidential. Michael Douglas gives his least preening performance oever as a writer whose life is in chaos. Ostensible a comedy, it`s too grounded to be overtly funny. As a life lesson it has things to say about commitment, age maturity and seeking something of true value. But at times I did wonder what it was actually all about other than a story of some eccentrics in academia. The performances are all solid but Robert Downey Jr does put an energy into the film that at times it needs. Wonder Boys is enjoyable but not majorly memorable although Dante Spinotti`s cinematography adds enormously to its pleasures.