2009/12/06 Wonderful World (R) (* /5) (Talk Cinema)

(2009-US) d Joshua Goldin

Stars Matthew Boderic (Ben Sinder), Sanaa Lathan (Khadi), Michael K. Williams (Ibou), Jodelle Ferland (Sandra), Philip Baker Hall (The Man), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Cyril)


A bittersweet comedy about families, friends and a frivolous fight against corporate institutions, Matthew Broderick plays Ben Singer, a failed children's folk singer, a newly unemployed proofreader and an every-other-weekend dad to his young daughter, who prefers pretty much anything to listening to her dad's pessimistic ramblings.

Struggling in all aspects of his life, Ben's only comforts come from smoking marijuana alone and regular chess games with his smart and opinionated Senegalese roommate Ibou. When Ibou is suddenly struck ill and an insensitive municipal employee exacerbates the emergency situation, Ben pours his energy into a lawsuit against the city for depraved indifference. Ben’s life begins to turn around with the arrival of Ibou’s beautiful and sexy sister Khadi from Senegal, who moves into Ibou’s room in Ben’s apartment. As Ben suspects that it is his own cynicism corroding the beauty around him, he realizes that it’s all a matter of perspective.

I found this to be a Very odd movie. Ben was extremely negative and pessimistic. Nothing ever went right for him in his life. It had a nice ending where he ended up going back to his roots where he was happiest, singing children's songs (although he gives up on the love interest with Khadi). Although it was good, it wasn't great!