The Worst Film Ever

Great Film overall

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

When you're introduced to our main character, seemingly a sad-sack cynic, you expect another Indie flick about depressed people in a nihilistic world. But that's not really who she is, and she's surrounded with anything but that.Her mother loves life and always looks on the bright side. Her gay coworker is cheerful and compassionate. Her ex boyfriend is misguided by sweet and well meaning. Her dates are mischievous but funny and confident. Also, our male protagonist is a great guy. He's trying to better himself and find the good in nature and simple pleasures. He does this while trying to maintain respect for his roots. So as you can see, this is not the typical Indie take on modern people. Of course it came out in 1998, so perhaps the pre-911 film world reflected a world of hope that would soon vanish. Phllip Seymour Hoffman is great here. What a funny, quirky character, without being pretentious or overly self-righteous. He plays it to perfection. Boston looks real and romantic, without the urban or tourist clichés of a Paris or New York. We see that it's just the right size with the right pace to get some meaningful life done. However, one visiting character nails its colder side with the perfect comment about all the schools, hospitals, and bars.What a great concept. To have people living in one interesting city, while fantasizing the whole time about another one. Rio perhaps. Walking the byways of Boston with Bossa Nova accompaniment. Of course let's not forget that Brazil is filled with intense poverty, shantytowns, and violent crime. So the music is more a state-of-mind than a reality. Perhaps that's what we are all seeking, and what the picture was ultimately trying to show. That we all strive for some paradigm or ideal that may not be attainable, but the notion of it gives us hope and keeps us in the game.

This is one of the dullest, most boring movies we've ever tried to watch. I don't know what movie the positive reviewers saw - it couldn't have been the same one!We made it through 22 agonizing minutes, and only stayed around that long because of the rave reviews. We kept hoping it would get better, but it only got worse and worse.The writing is blah, the acting wooden, and none of the characters seemed like real people. Forget this one, and see Sleepless in Seattle instead.I liked Hope Davis in Mumford - a far better film. She just looks tired and bored in this one.

NEXT STOP WONDERLAND (1998): My first viewing of Next Stop Wonderland occurred about three years ago, when I was pretty green on the subject of film. My first viewing led me to call it my favorite romantic comedy, for it was something different than I was used to seeing. It sparked an interest in Hope Davis, who has since become one of my favorite actresses (If you don't know her work, seriously check her out, she's great). So I bought the film about a year ago and haven't watched it since. Until this week, that is. And so comes my reevaluation..THE GOOD: The thing I love most about Next Stop Wonderland is the fact that it's a romantic comedy that avoids most of the clichés the genre has been burdened with. The two main characters are far from unattractive, but it's no Kate Hudson/Matthew McConaughey duo. The film doesn't capitalize on anything shiny or cheesy. These are real people in real situations. The two main characters are people stuck in ruts, waiting on their lives to change. And it's very true to life. Here we have a nurse whose boyfriend has just left her. Her mother tries to interfere in her life and get her "back out there" as far as dating. She doesn't want to and is pretty dismal throughout the majority of the film. Meanwhile, we have a serious man who volunteers at an aquarium while trying to afford schooling to become a marine biologist.Hope Davis absolutely shines in her role as Erin, the single woman who is too proud to admit that she's lonely. Another standout is Phillip Seymour-Hoffman, pre-Capote, in a small role as Erin's politically aware ex-boyfriend.THE BAD: I try not to judge a film on it's predictability, but it's hard not to do so. As far as this is concerned, it's obvious what's going to happen from the third scene. Obviously the lonely woman and the hard working single guy are going to find each other and fall in love. I guess one could say that it's "watching them get there" that is important, which I kind of agree with, but it makes you really want to tune out and fast forward through all the meaninglessness and skip to the end.The ending is kind of a let down. Like I said, it's impossible to not see the outcome from the beginning, but the actual climax is pretty disappointing. You expect to see some kind of interaction and connection between the two future lovers, but there is none of that. There's one final scene with them together and it's truly not worth what they endured to get there.THE RESULT: I guess the good outweighs the bad here. It's a simple concept and it mostly succeeds with what it's trying to do. Far from groundbreaking, but it is delightful entertainment and a suitable alternative to typical romantic comedies. There are some truly amusing moments here, but nothing really laugh out loud. Worth seeing for some good performances, some originality.7/10, down from 8/10.

This film is exactly how romance was meant to be portrayed on film. Love leaves you vulnerable, completely exposed, mad, and yet it is all worth the road where it takes us. This movie shows you that road for two people, and paints it so beautifully. It has been a long time that I have laughed at moments so familiar. This movie takes us places we've all been, or where we are right now. I am so angry at my friends for never telling me about this movie. I found it on the IFC channel today 5/11/05. This movie ranks in my book up there for romance movies w/Say Anything, Frankie and Johnny, and A Little Bit of Romance. Watch this film, it'll enlighten you and make you smile. Now who doesn't want to smile?