MovieChat Forums > Wonder Boys (2000) Discussion > This movie feels like home.

This movie feels like home.

posted 17 years ago by ephemeralarrogance
57 replies | jump to latest

I've watched it several times, and it makes me feel welcome. Like I know the characters.
I think it's the adventures they go on, the love and understanding they go through,the success, considering the failure, the laughs considering the hurt.

I also think the performances are brilliant, and I don't understand how such a film has had such an impact, seeing as it's not a movie I expected to see.

I was a buyer of software (movies) and saw the case, so many times keen to view ,read it, liked the synopsis yet never watched it until a year ago, immediately fell in love and highly recommend it.

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Has a movie ever made you feel warm and familiar? It's so bizarre, I'm interested to know what affect it had on the cast and crew.

[–] DryToast 17 years ago

Yes, I think I understand. Wonder Boys is one of the few films that I wouldn't mind living inside of. Maybe because there is no villain, there are only quirky, interesting, funny, appealing people in conflict with themselves and each other over who their true selves are. (Although had we seen more of Walter Gaskell or James's (grand)mother, the film might have lost some of that quality.)

"Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils."

[–] ephemeralarrogance 17 years ago

You're right, no villain and interesting characters. I agree about the Gaskell and (grand)mother comment also, maybe that's why it is so appealing to us both. There's no one around to ruin it.
It's a shame life can't be like that!

[–] DryToast 17 years ago

And yet, if the movie could be 7 hours long (I wish!), perhaps even Walter could be sympathetic. After all, his wife is screwing around behind his back and getting pregnant. And it was Richard Thomas. I bet we'd sympathize with him too. (Have you read the book? It's like the movie times ten! So much more of the same humor and heart, much detail, more incident....)

"Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils."

[–] ephemeralarrogance 17 years ago

I haven't read the book but I'm going to now. I've been keen for a new read, and I'd love to see the story elaborated.
And Walter, poor Walter, it was a sad situation, but he seemed a little too interested in other people's lives. Still no excuse. I think the fact his dog was shot, he had his most prized possession stolen AND his wife was cheating on him would make you feel pretty crappy, yet I love how we get caught up so much with all the fun and drama, you don't really think twice about him until after the movie, in quiet reflection you think 'Wow. How crap for Walt."
I'm going to Borders tomorrow...I'm onto it!

[–] balthazar_bee 17 years ago

I don't know, I wouldn't feel too sorry for Walter. He's a terminally oblivious and terminally tenured professor of literature who's just been SHAKAHBOOKOO'ed (sp?) in a couple of days. If he doesn't pull out of it and return to the same Walter he's always been, he might just turn into a great writer.

Blind dog with literary allusion for a name shot? Check.

Most prized pointless possession stolen? Check.

Wife knocked up by one of his employees after what is clearly a lengthy affair? Check.

Accidentally hit on a drag queen? Check.

Sucks up to pompous windbag Q? Check. ("I...am a writer." <applause>)

Last project an inevitable clunker? Check. ("The Last American Marriage"?)

In the literary world, nothing succeeds like despair!

[–] hellolewis 17 years ago

I love that even one of the most negatively presented minor characters, 'Vernon', ends up giving them a lift (''anytime'') and being remarkably tender towards his (unfeasibly attractive) girlfriend. The whole film seems to look for the good in everything and everyone while simultaneously showing how no one and nothing is perfect.

[–] akingofcomedy 9 years ago

The whole film seems to look for the good in everything and everyone while simultaneously showing how no one and nothing is perfect.

That's a great way to think of it, I'll have to remember that. It would be so easy I'll bet - and has probably occurred already in other threads - to break down the individual choices made by the characters (theft, discharging weapons needlessly, lying, infidelity, betrayal, snooping and Crabtree's creepy pursuit of Leer) but the film does sort of accept that people make mistakes, large and small. It doesn't linger on them and the characters avoid taking sanctimonious delight in the shortcomings of others. Wish society were more that way.

[–] EAPierce 17 years ago

"It's the kind of movie you want to wake up to on Christmas morning." :D

Yes, I know what you mean. It's a cozy, inviting story.

[–] dsanchez5 17 years ago

As an English student, I've had a few professors that have reminded me of Grady Tripp, and those are always the best kind.

[–] Bradley-drake 12 years ago

I agree with you and the OP , it's one of those movies that when I watched for the first time I used to pause it and take breaks as I did not want it to end so quickly! How refreshing to come to a board and see other people love it as I do.

Gretchen: You're weird.
Donnie: Sorry.
Gretchen: No, that was a compliment.

[–] verclear-28210 10 years ago

I've lived in Pittsburgh for the past 15 years and always loved that quote. The coolest thing to me was that the majority of the scenes were shot at real locations. Grady Tripp's home, the school (CMU), and especially, the kind of house you'd want to wake up in on Christmas morning, are all places I've tracked down and visited. Especially the house in Beaver that was Grady's ex-wife's parent's home. It sits on a cobble-stone street across the way from a small grass park with the view of that old railroad bridge and the Ohio river in the background. It even still has the doggy-door. I've visited there several times and played the scene on my tablet there when I'm having a rough stretch. Experiencing those warm, human emotions in real-time and in the moment are like opening a visceral, spiritual tap in me. Knowing it makes others feel the same way (even if they can't be there at the same time)is very freeing, humbling, and rejuvenating all at once. The fact that it IS kind of a secret place (as few people know it's actual location) is all the more sacred.

[–] javajuly 17 years ago

Wow, that's exactly what it feels like, thank you so much for putting it into
words! I realized that when I was reading the book, but it didn't occur to me
to say that about the film. However, I loved Wonder Boys in its many glorious forms. "Feels like home" is the way I always describe TV shows such as
WKRP In Cincinnati and The Golden Girls, but it certainly fits this film for me, also.

Let's take a chance and fly away...somewhere

[–] Aerlix 15 years ago

Yeah, this film and Groundhog Day, I can watch them over and over and I always feel so welcome. The world is so inviting. It moves at a nice pace and there are no tension tactics, the movie never tries to involve you by creating suspense. Odd that that should be so refreshing.

Re. Walt, well I always figured the others were doing him a favour, he didn't seem to have his priorities right, I'm sure he'd find some professor to shack up with pretty quick. In that sort of world if you got tenure, you get alllll the babes..

[–] charlesjwalker 14 years ago

I'm with you on WKRP In Cincinnati but... Golden Girls? Really? :-)

[–] smash7922 17 years ago

I know exactly what you mean.

One big thing that does this for me is the setting. Pittsburgh in winter months. I really like the scene near the beginning where its raining outside and the cop shows up. Something about the atmosphere is inviting to me, like a warm blanket and a window to look out of.

[–] ephemeralarrogance 16 years ago

Somehow I know what you mean, even though I live in Brisbane Australia..which doesn't experience winter.
It's great that people feel this way about 'Wonder Boys' no matter their origin. It's comforting to know others feel the same way.

[–] johnnywishbone28 16 years ago

I know exactly what you mean.

[–] ursolina 16 years ago

i know what you mean exactly. the reality of this movie is so far removed from my own reality, but i still find it to be strangely cozy and welcoming. i just love it, and when i need something that will make me feel good i will put it on.

i love, love, love, wonder boys.

[–] captain-elguapo 16 years ago

Yes thats exactly how I feel about wonderboys, I just couldnt find the words to articulate how I felt about the movie. Feels like home is a perfect description.
Other movies that make me feel like that are:

Starter for 10
The gameplan
National Lampoons christmas vacation
Lars and the real girl
The burbs

Cant think of any more right now...........

[–] BlueSmallows 16 years ago

Definitely agree. In fact, this is my favourite movie of all time and it's exactly because of that warm and fuzzy feeling I get on every viewing.