Wonderful World (2009)

Ben Singer has his cynical worldview darkened by his roommate Ibu's sudden medical situation, though the arrival of Ibu's sister, Khadi, might remedy both men's ills.

Director:

Joshua Goldin (as Josh Goldin)

Writer:

Joshua Goldin (as Josh Goldin)

Stars:

Matthew Broderick, Sanaa Lathan, Michael Kenneth Williams

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matthew Broderick	...	Ben Singer
Sanaa Lathan	...	Khadi
Michael Kenneth Williams	...	Ibu
Philip Baker Hall	...	The Man
Jesse Tyler Ferguson	...	Cyril
Jodelle Ferland	...	Sandra
Ally Walker	...	Eliza
Christy Reese	...	Cassie
Zacharias Foppe	...	Leon (as Zacharias E. Foppe)
Cristen Barnes	...	Suzie
Mia Ford	...	Maxine - Cyril's Daughter
Paul T. Taylor	...	Doug
James Burton	...	McRory
Dan Zanes	...	Sweeny
John Hambrick	...	Judge Bissel

Storyline

Ben is a failed children's folk singer and less-than-extraordinary weekend dad. Deeply cynical, Ben's sole pleasure in life is derived from chess games with his Senegalese roommate Ibou. When Ibou is suddenly struck ill and an insensitive municipal employee exacerbates the emergency situation, Ben's pessimistic world view seems unequivocally confirmed. But when Ibou's sister Khadi takes his place in their apartment, what starts as an awkward living arrangement becomes something more, and Ben finds that cynicism may be all a matter of perspective.

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Plot Keywords:

singer | senegalese | roommate | children | apartment | 

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Taglines:

If the glass is half empty, at least you can't drown.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some drug use and sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English Wolof

Release Date:

27 April 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Csodálatos világ

Filming Locations:

Shreveport, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,582, 10 January 2010, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$8,622, 17 January 2010

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cold Iron Pictures, K5 International, Ambush Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At one point in the film, Matthew Broderick and Sanaa Lathan are talking about the impossibility of their relationship. Lathan's character says that they are like a hippo and a lion trying to mate. Broderick asks 'who's the hippo. Broderick voiced Simba in the "Lion King" franchise.

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Goofs

When Ben folds Ibou's hands after finding him on his bed, you can see Ibou's left hand twitch slightly before Ben touches it.

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Quotes

Ibu: Maybe you should look at the world as your friend.
Ben Singer: Yeah, as soon as I see fish falling from the sky.

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Connections

Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Daybreakers/Leap Year/Youth in Revolt (2010)

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Soundtracks

Going Down Fannin Street
Written by Dan Zanes
Performed by Dan Zanes

User Reviews

A misanthropic singer struggles to release bitterness for the world and find hope and companionship.

Wonderful World is a complete pleasure, and an increasingly rare experience in American movies: A truly real and thoroughly enjoyable story about real people. It is about what happens when bitterness is replaced with hope, and when anger for the world turns to understanding. And although it has plenty of laughs, it is at its core both a compelling love story and a story about the importance of friendship. This is a perfect role for Matthew Broderick, who doesn't generally find material of this quality to work with. I'm looking forward to the next film from Josh Goldin, for whom this directing debut is a great accomplishment and hopefully a harbinger of more and even better things to come. Seems it took him a while to get this first directing gig off the ground, which makes one wonder, when contemplating all the slick formulaic cynical product that usually pours like vomit from the throat of Hollywood. Wonderful World is a closely observed story with a big heart. Go see it -- it will make you feel good.