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:

Happiness is a state of mind

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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

In the opening scene the actor bringing everyone drinks is drinking from his cup while he holds another cup (for his friend) in the same hand. This would spilled the contents of that cup on his face; if there was anything in it.

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Quotes

Ben Singer: [Courtroom presentation] I know I'm just a joke to you, and you only decided to hear my case because you're amused. Some crackpot acting as his own attorney accusing the city of depraved indifference. Do you know what the most crowded room is in the Getty Museum? It's the room with Van Gogh's Irises. Why? Because someone bought the painting for 54 million dollars. There's a reverential silence in the Iris room; Mr. and Mrs. Museum Goer might as well be looking at a framed pile of cash. ...

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Connections

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

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Soundtracks

Summer Wind
Written by Dan Zanes
Performed by Dan Zanes

User Reviews

Like a Bill Murray movie without Bill Murray

If you've seen a recent Bill Murray movie (Broken Flowers, etc) maybe you know what I'm talking about. Movies like this carry a certain vibe that's hard to explain... they feel cold, lonely, witty but sad and slightly nostalgic.

I suppose it's because there's a lot of silence, not a lot of emotion (despite emotional circumstances), and the scenes are bright but not colourful. If you've ever been in a hospital waiting room, that's the feeling.

"Wonderful World" is one of those films about a-day-in-the-life-of-a-schmuck, which are generally fun to watch (the best being "Buffalo 66"... if you haven't seen it GO SEE IT NOW). But I was left a little unfulfilled by WW. I think it's because it portrays the world as a really nasty, unjust place. Sure, that's whole the point of a-day-in-the-life-of-a-schmuck movies, but in this case it was just torturous.

I also thought Matthew Broderick was slightly miscast. Through no fault of his own, he has too much of a youthful, innocent look to come across as a bitter cynic, which is what this film demanded. Still, his acting was excellent (absolutely brilliant in some scenes), and if you like Broderick it'll be fun to see him in this very uncharacteristic role.

If you like slow & heavy comedy-dramas like "The Weather Man" or "Magnolia" or possibly "The Majestic" (though these films are not really comedies), you might like "Wonderful World".