How sad is this?

Crappy film

As Good As It Gets

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Ben Singer (Matthew Broderick) is a bitter cynic who is stuck in a dead-end job and always railing against his imaginary The Man (Philip Baker Hall). He's divorced from Eliza (Ally Walker) and his daughter Sandra (Jodelle Ferland) is struggling in all the negativity. His only friend and Senegalese roommate Ibou (Michael K. Williams) falls into a diabetic coma. His car gets towed after a complaint by an uncaring neighbor. Ibou's sister Khadi (Sanaa Lathan) arrives from Senegal. Ben's workmate Cyril (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) finds out that he used to be a successful kid entertainer and tries to befriend him.Despite Ben's relentless cynicism, I still kind of like him. Matthew Broderick has that kind of world weariness from his performance in Election. This is a black comedy but I don't necessarily find it funny. It's actually sincere in its misanthropic vision. I like his relationship with his daughter. There are holes in his life story. The character was once a successful man. There must be a wealth of material to dig into from that situation. Also I think his relationship with Khadi could be resolved better.Bottom Line, this is an interesting cynic's lament but it could have been funnier.

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!

Matthew Broderick is Ben Singer, who once was a popular guitarist and singer of children's songs but now, and for the last 8 years, has been working in a menial job as a proofreader. He is divorced but with a 12-yr-old daughter he sees some weekends, and he has a roommate to share the expenses of his small apartment. They never say where they are, but it was filmed in and around Shreveport, Louisiana.Ben's biggest "anchor" in life is his sour outlook. Not only does this affect his own life, but it rubs off on others. Young Canadian actress Jodelle Ferland as his daughter Sandra gets to where she doesn't want to be around dad because he comes across as so negative.So the small story is really about Ben and how he can get a new lease on life, a new and fresh perspective so he can begin to enjoy life again, as well as those around him.SPOILERS FOLLOW: His roommate, from Senegal, is a diabetic and gets so sick he goes into a coma. Hospitalized, his sister, Sanaa Lathan as Khadi, comes to take care of him, and stays at the apartment. She and Ben develop a liking to each other, which turns into love-making. As her brother gets better, Ben overhears them talking and wrongly believes Khadi is faking love for him so that he will marry her so she can stay here legally. The misunderstanding drives her back to Senegal, where she is happy. When her brother dies and Ben takes his remains back home, and tries to re-kindle the romance with Khadi, she says, "I like it here, it is home, What are you going to do, stay in Senegal?" They go their separate ways and he re-kindles his interest in singing and guitar playing, and begins to break out of his negativism.

I wasn't sure what to expect but I loved this thoughtful drama. The cast is terrific, especially Matthew Broderick and Sanaa Lathan. Who knew Michael K. Williams (THE WIRE) could play a guy with such heart. I cared about every relationship in this film. It's not just a love story between Ben (Matthew Broderick) and Khadi (Sanaa Lathan). It's a story about how all the imperfect but human relationships in Ben's life (his daughter, his roommate) force him out of his protective, cynical shell. I won't spoil anything but I got definitely got teary eyed in parts. It's a subtle and moving film but thankfully there's some humor in it as well. It's a little gem.