Movie Review: Wonder Boys

Story: Oh no! Another movie that starts with a narrator. I have said it many times before...if it needs a narrator to start and end we are in trouble, indeed. Please, please, please learn how to tell the story without a voice-over. Based on the 1995 novel by Michael Chabon (I did not read the book) with screenplay by Steve Kloves (of the most fabulous, Fabulous Baker Boys) and directed by Curtis Hansen (of the most terrific LA Confidential) the story (or stories) seem to be about stuff lost and stuff found. We get a lost dog, a lost sweater, a lost car, a lost ex-wife and a lost book. I won't reveal what is eventually found (I WOULD NEVER DO THAT!) but after many convoluted tales (actually too many) it is tidied up at the end (with the narrator's help, of course). Whatever it's faults, it is still quite charming, but at times a bit too cute for my taste. It is about academia, youth, middle age and winter in Pittsburgh.

Acting: Michael Douglas finally gives us a rest from his sleek form, Armani suits and rich, evil contemporary man and succumbs to middle age, somewhat puffy, disheveled, replete with tortoise shell reading glasses and a woman's old bathrobe. He is charming, competent and generous with the rest of the cast. Tobey McGuire (who seems to work well with older' actors named Michael - see The Cider House Rules with Michael Caine, plays quirky, oddball James Leer, the other Wonder Boy. He has mastered the acting school of less is more' He is also charming, competent and generous. Francis McDormand who is always good and is also pregnant here as she was in the wonderful Fargo. Robert Downey Jr, is always edgy and quirky and raises the Quirky Meter whenever he is in a film.

Pets: One blind dog (big part) and a pretty black dog

Visual Art: Lots of posters

Quirky Meter: 5

Sappy Factor: 2

Tissue Usage: 0

Soundtrack: Bob Dylan, Neil Young ish

Oscar Worthy: (New category) No

Weather of note: (sometime category) Lots of snow and rain

LOBO HOWLS: 5