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The Wonder Boys

1 Dead Dog

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Johnny Dickshot Mar 04 2006 01:29 PM

Michael Douglas plays a stoned college professor who's written the great American Novel but can't finish the second. Over the course of one weekend, we learn he's schtupping the wife of his department head (Frances McDormand) who's pregnant, his wife left him, his oddball agent (Robert Downey Jr.) is in town and he's dealing with two of his students, Spiderman Maguire, who's an amazing writer but socially a mess, and Katie Holmes who wants in his pants. Kind of a big shaggy dog story (rather a dead dog story), and difficult to believe at times, ultimately I found it pretty satisfying. Based on the novel by Michael Chabon which I didn't read.

Frayed Knot Mar 04 2006 02:05 PM

Yeah not great, but I kinda liked it. It was also my first introduction to Katie Holmes (I never saw that teen TV show she was in) and she was cute as a bug in it. Now her hookup and pregnancy with Tom Cruise (and subsequent breakup?) makes her seem kind of, I dunno ... tainted.

Matt Murdock, Esq. Mar 05 2006 11:09 AM

i liked it alot. its the only performance by M.Douglas that i didnt' completely loath. Tobey Macguire is a revelation, Downey (between detoxes) is delightful as always. i didn't read the book either. But i did love Chabon's KAVALIER & CLAY and i just read his novella, THE FINAL SOLUTION, which i didn't get what he was doing until about halfway thru, at which point i loved the concept. the execution, however, was somewhat lacking. I couldn't read SUMMERLAND at all, despite dealing with 2 beloved subjects... fantasy and baseball. I've heard MYSTERIES OF PITTSBURGH and WONDER BOYS are both excellent, but i'm not anxious to try them.

sharpie Mar 06 2006 01:30 PM

I liked it fine. 7 outta 10. Plus it has the excellent Dylan song, "Things Have Changed" going for it. Mysteries of Pittsburgh was a good book, Vic. Chabon is a huge Pirates fan.

Edgy DC May 08 2006 09:54 AM

OK, I'll say it. I like a Michael Douglas movie. And I'll even go further and say it isn't even "I liked it despite Michael Douglas" (like, say Falling Down or, I don't know, Coma). His portrayal works for me. Michael Douglas and a dead dog usually kill any movie for me and certainly for Ms. Edgy, so Chabon and the director deserve a lot of kudos for getting around with that baggage.