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Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, Frances McDormand, Robert Downey Jr., Katie Holmes ... see more see more... , Richard Thomas , Rip Torn , Philip Bosco , Jane Adams (II) , Richard Knox , Michael Cavadias , Alan Tudyk

In this comedy, a middle-aged man juggles his problems with women, literature, and a career, while a younger man chases the artifact of his dreams. Pittsburgh college professor Grady Tripp (Michael Do... read more read more...uglas) is currently single following his divorce from his third wife; after publishing an acclaimed first novel, Grady has been working on a follow-up, but he's been sidelined by a severe case of writer's block. Grady has more than his writing career to think about; his affair with one of the (married) chancellors at the University of Pittsburgh (Frances McDormand), has resulted in her pregnancy, while Hannah (Katie Holmes), a student boarding at Grady's house, has developed a crush on him. While Grady is obsessed with his book, one of his students (Tobey Maguire) has an obsession of his own: finding a jacket once owned by Marilyn Monroe. Based on the novel by Michael Chabon, The Wonder Boys also features Robert Downey Jr., Rip Torn, and Richard Thomas. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

79% liked it

38,353 ratings

Critics

81% liked it

124 critics

R, 1 hr. 52 min.

Directed by: Curtis Hanson

Release Date: November 8, 2000

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DVD Release Date: March 13, 2001

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Stats: 1,745 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,745)

  • jennifxu
    May 2, 2011
    jennifxu
    It's perfectly fine. I don't really buy anybody's character though. Michael Douglas, a depressive writer? Tobey Maguire, a psychopath? Katie Holmes, a writing ingenue? No, no, and no.
  • stevenecarrier
    March 18, 2011
    stevenecarrier
    "Wonder Boys" is just a lot of fun. It's not really saying anything in the way of college professors, writers or students, but it certainly gets all of their personalities correct. The movie is more about character and dialogue- this is an actors film. The cast works wonders with... read more terrific work from Michael Douglas, Robert Downey Jr, Tobey Maguire, Frances McDormand, Katie Holmes and Rip Torn. "Wonder Boys" is witty, smart, energetic and extremely well acted.
  • RossCollinsUK
    March 12, 2011
    RossCollinsUK
    I don't like movies about movies and this is the next worse thing. A self-indulgent writer's fantasy. Putting a pair of glasses on A-list stars and making them waffle on about obscure facts doesn't turn them into convincing academics. Typical quirky American indy with Tobey Magui... read morere playing a creepy kid again.
  • ythelastman89
    January 26, 2011
    ythelastman89
    This is a really fun story with a lot of great characters. While it can be a little pretentious at times, I feel like that wasn't the message of the movie but the particular character Tobey Maguire plays. Michael Douglas and Robert Downey Jr. are a powerhouse and create some real... read morely great moments together. The story tries to capture multiple people and very critical points in their lives. It's not simply a coming of age story or a mid-life crisis story, it's a combination of sorts. In the end it's a very worthwhile and charming movie.
  • LWOODS04
    August 15, 2010
    LWOODS04
    Cast: Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, Frances McDormand, Robert Downey Jr., Katie Holmes, Rip Torn, Jane Adams, Richard Thomas, Alan Tudyk, Philip Bosco, George Grizzard, Kelly Bishop

    Directed by: Curtis Hanson

    Summary: This endearing slice of life centers on unraveling En... read moreglish professor Grady Tripp (Michael Douglas), who's forced to confront his writer's block, fear of aging and irresponsibility as he watches a student (Tobey Maguire) surpass him. Meanwhile, he contends with the consequences of an affair and fends off the advances of a young boarder (Katie Holmes). Steve Kloves earned an Oscar nod for his script.

    My Thoughts: "This has to be my favorite movie that Michael Douglas has done to date. Just really loved everything about this film. I am disappointed that I waited so long to watch it though. Tobey Maguire was so good as the quirky, mysterious, brilliant pathological liar. I loved all the characters in this film. It was casted quite brilliantly. I was surprised at how funny this film was considering its listed as a drama. But it had lots of humor in it, especially with all the predicaments they find themselves in. Robert Downey Jr. was his funny self as usual in this. Just a very smartly done film in my opinion. Haven't read the book so I can't compare it. But after seeing the film, I would like to. So its got a great story, good acting, great characters, it's funny, and it even has some good music to top it off. Just a fun watch. Give a go if you have yet to see it."
  • cosmo313
    August 5, 2010
    cosmo313
    As far as being a writer goes, I may personally just be a hack amateur wannabe, and, even though I plan on being a professor, I'm not there yet. Regardless of all that though, this movie really clicked with me, and I found myself really tapping into its frequency.

    The inclusi... read moreon of Bob Dylan makes this already great film even better. If you're not into Dylan, or at least not later Dylan, you probabky won't agree. I think it fits perfectly though, so I'm glad it's in the movie. Even though my intro to this review showed my inability to completely relate, a movie about passionate people struggling to deal with all life puts them through is something that everyone can get, even if the specifics differ from the viewers' own personal experiences.

    The weary, stoenr, neurotic Grady Tripp is a great character. He's someone you can love and feel for, yet he's still very ragged, and you wonder why you should continue to care, if you ever really did to begin with. Michael Douglas is fantastic as Tripp, giving one of his best performances in years. Tobey Maguire, I feel, is channeling Bud Cort's work from Harold & Maude, and it pays off. He also gives an excellent performances as the troubled and mysterious prodigy. Katie Holmes has a smaller role, but she's also pretty good. Sometimes I forget that she does have talent. Downey Jr. and McDormand also give fine performances as always.

    I liked that this was a small movie, and that it has high artistic vlaue, but that it isn't too pretentious or artsy, and that it became a sleeper hit. I haven't read the source material, but it seems like something I could see myself enjoying.

    There aren't a whole lot of overtly cinematic moments, with lots of abundant style and flair, but this is definitely a "film" as opposed ot a "movie". This ranks, along with L.A. Confidential, as Curtis Hanson's best film, and one you would do well to see. It's charming, touching, and very entertaining.
  • movieguru12
    December 28, 2009
    movieguru12
    A good Michael Douglas movie. :)
  • SirPant
    September 14, 2009
    SirPant
    A really good little indie film, i think its my favorate Douglas film. Tobey Maguire isn't even a little bit annoying, so it can't be bad eh!
  • aliceinpunderland
    August 25, 2009
    aliceinpunderland
    Probably the best movie about writers. It's literary yet not terribly pretentious - just enough for we writers to feel entitled.
  • yona71
    August 2, 2009
    yona71
    Michael Douglas portrays the pothead professor/writer Grady Tripp struggling with writer's block in this brilliant, comical film. Tripp befriends one of his students James Leer(Tobey Maguire) who he believes in as a writer. There are some humorous situations involving Tripp and J... read moreames trying to find a jacket once owned by Marilyn Monroe, a college girl and student of his boarding at his home who is quite enamored with him, his publisher portrayed by Robert Downey Jr, and the colossal book he's been writing that even he can't explain. There's a lot going on in this film, so it's rather difficult to summarize in a brief review. I believe this 2000 film is definately one of the better, funniest films of the twenty first century thus far.

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Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
April 5, 2007
Emanuel Levy, Variety

Michael Douglas gives the best perfromance of his career (to be remembered at Oscar time) in this screwball comedy about a college professor who's pushed into maturity by forces beyond his control; a ... Full Review

Peter Travers
May 11, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Get going, you laggards.

A.O. Scott
January 1, 2000
A.O. Scott, New York Times

Wonder Boys is like a George Cukor movie with a bad head cold -- slow, muffled and vague. Full Review

Robert Horton
January 1, 2000
Robert Horton, Film.com

After enduring a lot of jokes about May-December romances, Douglas comes bouncing back with one of his best performances.

Owen Gleiberman
January 1, 2000
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

[Curtis Hanson] so intent on getting us to like his characters that he didn't give them enough juice. Full Review

Jay Boyar
January 1, 2000
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel

The dialogue is smart without parading its braininess.

David Ansen
January 1, 2000
David Ansen, Newsweek

[Michael Douglas] is a superb comic actor, one who knows that the secret of being funny is never begging for a laugh.

Terry Lawson
January 1, 2000
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

Wonders really never cease.

Jonathan Foreman
January 1, 2000
Jonathan Foreman, New York Post

McDormand is as much a delight to watch as she's ever been.

Glenn Lovell
January 1, 2000
Glenn Lovell, San Jose Mercury News

Smart and funny.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Wonder Boys Trivia

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