A dubiously reactionary narrative trajectory (from dope and gay friends to, quite literally, the Holy Family); mannered acting surrounding Michael Douglas; obvious, writerly symbolism (eg the bloated manuscript and Grady's life).
Yes. And yet. Three things.
1. 'Wonder Boys' is the anti-'American Beauty', deliberately inversing that film's immaturity; people have to live with their choices.
2. 'Wonder Boys' is actually a meta-text. Douglas plays Mr. X, a successful writer who appears near the end, with a nice house and wife and kid, who writes about Grady the mess, perhaps sublimating his desires; more probably dramatising the cracks of his own life. His action of 'save' on his laptop is a giveaway.
3. Michael Douglas, a great, great actor giving a great, great performance, so rich and sympathetic, and, yes, sexier than he's been in so-called 'sexy' roles for ages.
Yes. And yet. Three things.
1. 'Wonder Boys' is the anti-'American Beauty', deliberately inversing that film's immaturity; people have to live with their choices.
2. 'Wonder Boys' is actually a meta-text. Douglas plays Mr. X, a successful writer who appears near the end, with a nice house and wife and kid, who writes about Grady the mess, perhaps sublimating his desires; more probably dramatising the cracks of his own life. His action of 'save' on his laptop is a giveaway.
3. Michael Douglas, a great, great actor giving a great, great performance, so rich and sympathetic, and, yes, sexier than he's been in so-called 'sexy' roles for ages.