Tuesday, July 29, 2008

'Next Stop Wonderland' Review



(Spoilers) ****/***** The best way to classify this film would be to say that it's an indie romantic comedy. Going into it, you already know who will end up with whom, as they encounter each other in a multitude of ways, as if fate is knocking on their respective doors. There is a lighthearted theme throughout of destiny versus random events, but that is just part of this talky, at times seriocomic and sardonic, and other times genuinely affecting and somewhat enlightening film. Furthermore, it doesn't matter that you know they will end up together; this is about THAT journey, about fish in sea, or singles in bars, and the painstaking, embarrassing and asinine things we'll do to potentially seek that proverbial 'one' out. It is replete in imagery as well, half the time the characters are in what seems to be The New England Aquarium, including a little side story with a blowfish. Philip Seymour Hoffman is hilarious as Erin's activist ex-boyfriend, lost in his own little idealistic world too. However, in the end, boy meets girl, and they wander from Wonderland Station.

1 comment:

  1. I can't read your post because of the spoilers. I wouldn't want to ruin the movie.

    I kid, I kid.

    One of the few problems with movies is since it is a movie, we know what is going to happen long before it happens. There are way to many movies where if you look at the poster you can figure out exactally what will happen in the movie. Many mystery movies are ruined because of this fact. A good movie realizes that we already know the outcome so it gives us an entertaining journey. It sounds like "Next Stop Wonderland" is about the journey. This fact alone should make it worth watching. I think I'll put it on my list of films to see.

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