Film Review: "Wonder Boys"

Every chapter of this movie is worth checking out!

Wonder Boys revolves around creative writing professor, Grady Tripp, and the conflicts in both his personal and professional life. Michael Douglas shines in an underrated performance as this college professor who just cannot finish his second novel over seven years after his first book’s success. Grady keeps writing without a clear idea for an ending. Robert Downey Jr. portrays his peculiar editor, Terry Crabtree, and he cannot wait any longer for this next great novel. Grady’s affair with Frances McDormand’s Sara Gaskell, who is the university chancellor, continues after his wife leaves him. He quickly learns that Sara is pregnant with their child.

On top of these circumstances, a reserved but gifted student, James Leer, becomes a part of Grady’s personal problems when he kills Sara’s dog, which attacked Grady. Tobey Maguire utilizes his timidity well as this unpredictable, hard-to-figure-out wunderkind. I also am sure that this student’s writing will either surprise you or make you scratch your head due to bewilderment.

All these crazy scenarios clash in a style that feels urgent but does not hesitate to take its time. The movie gives you moments to just take a deep breath and chuckle at all the absurdness that no one expects to happen. These situations only lead to more problems, which include James stealing Marilyn Monroe’s black wedding jacket and Grady losing his unnecessarily lengthy first draft for his next novel. Other critical, shocking scenes like the aforementioned ones never seem too outlandish for the rest of the plot either. Everything at stake here is exactly what should fuel someone’s imagination to write the next great novel that everybody can read.

A lot of the unusual, quirky humor throughout Wonder Boys fits the mold for these main characters’ personalities. They all get to know each other a little better as they await what the future has in store for them. People like Grady and James just learn to accept the present moment in order to figure out what they want to accomplish as writers. Sometimes, this is how you learn more about not just yourself but your writing style too. A movie like Wonder Boys exists to help viewers find their voice.

While receiving critical praise and even winning an Oscar for Best Original Song, which is “Things Have Changed” by Bob Dylan, Wonder Boys did not receive as much attention as it deserved most likely due to the high volume of other, excellent movies released during the early 2000s. However, what makes this movie so delightful is that here is a rare story that avid readers, aspiring writers, and film aficionados can all enjoy together. Being creative and taking shared risks are what can bring more unity among us. This is the main takeaway that I got from Wonder Boys.

As you get ready for any summer reading challenges coming soon, you should throw in a viewing of Wonder Boys as a break between the marathon reading sessions. As a bonus, do not forget to check out the book of the same name by Michael Chabon, which is the basis for this feature film. It can be the perfect book-and-movie duo for your selected summer reading list.

Wonder Boys is available to borrow on DVD from the Jefferson County Library Cooperative, including all 16 active Birmingham Public Library locations.

Wonder Boys is also available to stream on both Amazon Prime Video and Paramount Plus.

By William Anthony | Librarian Ⅰ, Citizen Services