When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

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".

In Wonderful World, Matthew Broderick is the negative middle-aged divorcée, failing as an employee, a father, and a human being. The story is how, through tragedy, he is redeemed, and redeems himself. Broderick's skill is the understated handling of this character - he makes sympathetic what could have been irritating. Broderick is a master of the everyman and his performance is calm, nuanced, and at the same time riveting. We really want him to do better - we like him.Enter Sanaa Lathan as the sister of his ailing roommate. She injects life, love, and wonder into Broderick's lamentable existence. She invigorates his humanity. The tale of this metamorphosis is the crux of the movie and it is done with intelligence, some humor, and some tragedy.Very well done with great performances by all involved, Wonderful World is a heart-warming and enjoyable uplifting story. See it!

While many may place this little film in the same category as the critically acclaimed THE VISITOR from last year (depressed man finds redemption in his association with foreigners), which is not necessarily a bad place to be. Joshua Goldin has written and directed a low budget Indie film that opts for a story about human emotions rather than CGI effects or vampire stories and the result is a moving experience. Ben Singer (Matthew Broderick) is a depressed pessimist: his is divorced, sees his only daughter Sandra (Jodelle Ferland) weekly but transfers his state of mind that the world is a weary place to live with her. He works as a proofreader and shares the rent for his tiny apartment with a Senegalese man, Ibu (Michael K. Williams), with whom he passes the evenings playing chess. Ibu suffers from diabetes but despite his need for daily injections of insulin manages to bring what little light there is into Ben's world. At one point Ibu lapses into diabetic coma and must be hospitalized and Ben's genuine concern for his friend causes him to be absent form his work - and the subsequent loss of his eight year long boring stint as a proofreader. Ben contacts Ibu's sister Khadi (Sanaa Latham) in Senegal and she travels to be with her brother - and to, by need, live in Ben's apartment. Khadi is kind and eventually finds her way into Ben's frozen heart. Khadi suggests that the only way for her to remain in America is to obtain a green card - which suggests that the two be married. Ben's negative outlook on the world almost destroys one of the few warm relationships he has. Khadi returns to Senegal when Ibu dies and the transformation in real feelings Ben discovers begins a new look at the 'glass half empty' philosophy. Matthew Broderick is exceptionally fine in this role and Williams, Latham, and Ferland contribute excellent support. Joshua Goldin found it necessary to insert a God-like character (Philip Baker Hall) who is seen only by Ben and this seems an unnecessary trick that isn't really needed to make this story flow. But that is a small flaw in an otherwise very touching movie. Grady Harp

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.