Next Stop Wonderland (1998)

Director:

Brad Anderson

Writers:

Brad Anderson (writer)
Lyn Vaus (writer)

Release Date:

21 August 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Being alone is fine. Being alone together is perfect.

Plot:

An unlucky in love nurse finds her life taking a detour when her mother places a personals ad in the paper, while on the other side of Boston, a plumber is trying to change careers.

Plot Keywords:

Personal Ad | Nurse | Marine Biologist | Love | Plumber

Awards:

3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Hope Davis	...	Erin Castleton
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Sean
Callie Thorne	...	Cricket
Ken Cheeseman	...	Rick
Pamela Hart	...	Berit
Diane Beckett	...	Seana
Jeremy Geidt	...	Bookseller
Alan Gelfant	...	Alan Monteiro
Dave Gilloran	...	Aquarium Volunteer
Luz Alexandra Ramos	...	Thalia (as Luz Alexandra)
Emma Shaw	...	Bailey
Kemp Harris	...	Ben
Neil Gustafson	...	Yuri Spinov
Holland Taylor	...	Piper Castleton
E. Katherine Kerr	...	Candice (as Katherine Kerr)

Also Known As:

Last Train to Wonderland (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | South Africa:A | Australia:M | France:U | Hong Kong:IIA | Spain:T | USA:R | Italy:VM14 | Singapore:PG | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Robbins Entertainment

Trivia:

One of the last scenes in the film, with Andre on the airplane, was filmed several months after the initial completion of the film. The scene was added because test audiences reacted badly to Erin standing-up Andre at the end of the film. The intention of the scene was to show that Andre was not a nice guy (as he had been throughout the film) and remove any sympathy viewers had for him. The fact that this scene was filmed so much later also explains why Andre's hair is significantly different in that scene than in the rest of the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: The level of wine in Erin's glass, when she is dining with the Brazilian.

Quotes:

Cricket: Don't you just hate men?
Erin Castleton: Oh God, I wish I did. That would make my life so much easier.

For true romantics only

Erin (Hope Davis) is recently single (her boyfriend moved out), a nurse and looking for Mr. Right. Alan (Alan Gelfant) works at the New England Aquarium, is a student and has no time for love. Naturally they're made for each other. We watch their separate lives all through the movie slowly intertwining them and drawing them to each other.

This is a very small independent film, shot in Boston and picked up by Miramax. If you know Boston and the surrounding cities some of this is amusing. Erin lives in a huge apartment in Beacon Hill--there's no way a nurse could afford that. Also she meets all her dates a bar called the Burren which is located two towns away in Somerville! But they did get Wonderland right--that's a station on the Blue Line subway where Alan lives near.

Those little goofs aside (actually they're pretty funny) this is a very nice, romantic film. A perfect date movie. It's got a very laid-back feeling that is absolutely charming. This is helped with a very soothing music score. But be warned--this movie is only for true romantics! If you look at it in a serious frame of mind you're gonna hate it. But if you're a romantic (like me) you'll love it! Davis gives a very nice low-key performance (but she could have lightened up a little); Gelfant is good also--and has beautiful eyes. Also well-directed by Brad Anderson. Not believable for a moment but boy--is it romantic! I recommend it. I give it an 8.