Search - Wonder Boys on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Adult Humor, Profanity, Sexual Situations, Drug Content Movie Release: 2000 DVD Release: 03/13/2001 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 52 mins Studio: Paramount Total Copies: 4 Genres: Comedy Drama, Comedy of Manners, Coming-of-Age See Also: Wonder Boys

In this comedy, a middle-aged man juggles his problems with women, literature, and a career, while a younger man chases the artifact of his dreams. Pittsburgh college professor Grady Tripp (Michael Douglas) is currently single following his divorce from his third wife; after publishing an acclaimed first novel, Grady has been working on a follow-up, but he's been sidelined by a severe case of writer's block. Grady has more than his writing career to think about; his affair with one of the (married) chancellors at the University of Pittsburgh (Frances McDormand), has resulted in her pregnancy, while Hannah (Katie Holmes), a student boarding at Grady's house, has developed a crush on him. While Grady is obsessed with his book, one of his students (Tobey Maguire) has an obsession of his own: finding a jacket once owned by Marilyn Monroe. Based on the novel by Michael Chabon, The Wonder Boys also features Robert Downey Jr., Rip Torn, and Richard Thomas. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Michael Douglas - Grady Tripp
Tobey Maguire - James Leer
Frances McDormand - Sara Gaskell
Robert Downey, Jr. - Terry Crabtree
Katie Holmes - Hannah Green

Like most contemporary releases on DVD, =Wonder Boys features a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer and Dolby Digital soundtrack that are flawless. It's worth noting, though, that the film has been edited from its original theatrical version. The family of a star named in the original version as a celebrity suicide was unhappy with the inclusion, so the filmmakers overdubbed a different name for the video release. The edit is noticeable, but does not really affect the overall film. The "Cast & Crew Interviews" section listed on the package and in the special features menu is really a short, "making of" featurette that covers the basics of the film's production. A more creative inclusion is an "interactive map tour" of the Pittsburgh area with a short history and explanation for each location. The most insightful is the segment on the bridges, revealing an entire motif that adds depth to the film. Similarly, a menu of the film's music is also provided, with a short commentary by director Curtis Hanson for each selected song. The most time in this feature is devoted to Bob Dylan, who contributed an original song, the Oscar-nominated "Things Have Changed." The music video and a trailer are included as well. Wonder Boys had a lackluster performance at the box office, but hopefully the ingenuity of the supplements and the quality of the film itself will help it find an audience on DVD. ~ Oliver Thornton, All Movie Guide