Rating: 
Summary: Sweet
Review: Every once in a while, I decide not to post a review of a film because every other reviewer seems to have covered most of the points I'd wanted to make. With "Next Stop Wonderland," this was true right down to the very vocabulary I'd use. It really is a "charming" film, its musings about "love and destiny" remain just that, musings, nothing too heavyhanded or mysterioso. As an evening's entertainment, with or without the one you love or would like to love, by your side, it's hard to beat. "Not a masterpiece", but very good, and "quite original."But those bases had all pretty much been covered, so what was the point in just adding another positive vote? Well, upon a second viewing I realized that there were still a few points to be made re: "Wonderland." One of the reasons that it doesn't come off too cosmic in its probing of love and fate is that the dialog and the acting are so authentic. The characters talk like real people--some you might actually pick as friends yourself and some you definitely wouldn't, but real people nonetheless. And the acting is right on the mark. I always thought that Holland Taylor deserved her Emmy for her work on "The Practice", but I did tire of that show after a while. Her Roberta Kitelson character on that show was deftly portrayed, but she manages to do so much more with her few minutes on the screen here. The intelligence that she injects into each line of dialogue could be used in a master acting class. She's that good. Of course, it may have something to do with the fact that the director was her nephew--there's nothing like keeping it all in the family--still he couldn't have chosen a better actress for the part of Erin's mom. The only false note is her name--her character is too old to have been named after Piper Laurie, and even in Laurie's case, it's only a stage (screen?)name. Of course, it's not just Taylor. The whole cast is very good. I have to agree that Hope Davis deserves a lot more attention than she has received. This should have been her break-out movie, of course, but I guess it wasn't seen by enough people. With the right project, though, she could at least get the kind of attention Hilary Swank and Laura Linney have achieved in recent years. One other little apercu: the first time I viewed this movie, I was not all that impressed with the camera work. On a second viewing, the cinematography seems all of a piece with the naturalistic dialog and acting style. Neither lead (Davis nor "leading man"--scarcely the right term--Alan Gelfant are always shot at their best angle. Sometimes they seem downright plain...sort of like, you guessed it, real people. And that's sort of the point: these are average people, decent people leading unremarkable lives, but ready and eager for some ordinary miracle to come their way. The movie's very humility makes it all the more endearing. You genuinely come to like these folks, and feel as though you know them. They're just authentic enough, that when the two leads finally do meet at the end, after so many near misses, you can't help but say, "Well, finally!" With almost any other movie, you'd being saying, "Oh, get real!"
Rating: 
Summary: A hob gobblin of bossa nova whispers and modern day solitude
Review: Great sound track (girl from iponema kinda stuff) - funny one liners - and a realistic comedic commentary on the +/- of solitude prior to meeting Mr/Mrs right. Kind of a "Sliding Doors" without models for characters.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderland Questions Modern Love
Review: Hollywood has often portrayed love as an event which just "happens." No matter what one does, no matter what one expects, true love can strike at any time. We are -- Hollywood would like us to believe -- in the hands of Fate. But Erin Castleton (Hope Davis) doesn't believe in fate. After her boyfriend leaves, she resigns herself to a lonely life without expectations. Next Stop, Wonderland is a delightful independent film which speaks to the romantic in us all. It follows Erin, a young registered nurse who has resigned herself to a life of quiet loneliness. While Erin is talking to her mother (Holland Taylor from The Truman Show) it becomes apparent that she has given up on several of her dreams -- most around the time that she lost her father. Her friends and family want her to find someone, but she believes "only you can make yourself happy." In this world, however, Erin's is not the only story. We are also introduced to Alan Monteiro (Alan Gelfant, The Crow: The City of Angels), a former plumber and marine biology student. At 35, Alan has finally latched onto his dreams: he volunteers at the local aquarium and he is the star student in his biology class. Ultimately, Erin's mom takes matters into her own hands and places a singles ad for her daughter. At first furious with her mother, Erin becomes desperate and decides to check the messages waiting for her. When she realizes that more than 60 men have responded, her curiosity leads her to answering the messages. While their two worlds never quite collide, Erin and Alan orbit each other, often coming within inches of making contact. In one delightful scene, Erin's picture appears in the newspaper's society column. While she and Alan are drinking in separate parts of the same bar, he spills a drink on his newspaper, causing her picture to bleed through from the previous page and into view. Before he can notice it, however, Alan folds up the wet paper and throws it away. While the movie premise could certainly be a vehicle for a star like Sandra Bullock or Meg Ryan, Next Stop, Wonderland showcases the talents of a relatively unknown actress. Davis brings to the screen a quiet vulnerability. She makes us care for her, but unlike a big-star movie, we have doubts about if she can find true happiness. Next Stop, Wonderland is hopelessly romantic, but often sedate. The humor is subtle and dry. While there are moments that made me laugh out loud, they were few and far between. Even though it is an independent film with a small cast, it is refreshing and uplifting. It might not be to everyone's taste, but I think true romantics will fall to its charm.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderland Questions Modern Love
Review: Hollywood has often portrayed love as an event which just "happens." No matter what one does, no matter what one expects, true love can strike at any time. We are -- Hollywood would like us to believe -- in the hands of Fate. But Erin Castleton (Hope Davis) doesn't believe in fate. After her boyfriend leaves, she resigns herself to a lonely life without expectations. Next Stop, Wonderland is a delightful independent film which speaks to the romantic in us all. It follows Erin, a young registered nurse who has resigned herself to a life of quiet loneliness. While Erin is talking to her mother (Holland Taylor from The Truman Show) it becomes apparent that she has given up on several of her dreams -- most around the time that she lost her father. Her friends and family want her to find someone, but she believes "only you can make yourself happy." In this world, however, Erin's is not the only story. We are also introduced to Alan Monteiro (Alan Gelfant, The Crow: The City of Angels), a former plumber and marine biology student. At 35, Alan has finally latched onto his dreams: he volunteers at the local aquarium and he is the star student in his biology class. Ultimately, Erin's mom takes matters into her own hands and places a singles ad for her daughter. At first furious with her mother, Erin becomes desperate and decides to check the messages waiting for her. When she realizes that more than 60 men have responded, her curiosity leads her to answering the messages. While their two worlds never quite collide, Erin and Alan orbit each other, often coming within inches of making contact. In one delightful scene, Erin's picture appears in the newspaper's society column. While she and Alan are drinking in separate parts of the same bar, he spills a drink on his newspaper, causing her picture to bleed through from the previous page and into view. Before he can notice it, however, Alan folds up the wet paper and throws it away. While the movie premise could certainly be a vehicle for a star like Sandra Bullock or Meg Ryan, Next Stop, Wonderland showcases the talents of a relatively unknown actress. Davis brings to the screen a quiet vulnerability. She makes us care for her, but unlike a big-star movie, we have doubts about if she can find true happiness. Next Stop, Wonderland is hopelessly romantic, but often sedate. The humor is subtle and dry. While there are moments that made me laugh out loud, they were few and far between. Even though it is an independent film with a small cast, it is refreshing and uplifting. It might not be to everyone's taste, but I think true romantics will fall to its charm.
Rating:
Summary: Smart, funny, poignant romance
Review: Hope Davis is a terrific actress, and here she plays with depth of soul a delightfully and intelligently melancholy young nurse in Boston. What I love about this movie: Ms. Davis' obvious intelligence (intellectual and emotional); the local Boston accents; and the utterly fun bossa nova soundtrack. The end of this movie is so satisfying and memorable that, when a year ago I spend a week or so in Boston, I insisted that my wife ride with me on the train system up to the Wonderland exit, that we deboard, walk up to the shoreline and basically relive the closing moments. This is not the sort of thing I generally do, but it just seemed right. For a quiet evening at home with the one you love, you can't go wrong with "Next Stop Wonderland."
Rating:
Summary: A Quiet Romantic Comedy
Review: I bought the soundtrack long before I saw the movie, and just about wore the CD out. It's a must-have for any fan of bossa nova. I bought the movie once I saw it, as well. It's a good pick for a rainy day under the blanket. Hope Davis is a pleasure to watch, and the plot is subtely funny. It's not a showy movie, but a little slice of life with a marvelous soundtrack.
Rating:
Summary: Found It Worth Ordering for Fun (even from overseas!)
Review: I first got a paperback of the Japanese translation of this movie 2 months ago and loved it immediately. After reading it over and over again, I felt like getting this video, the original one. Knowing the details of every scene in advance, I found out that a few scenes are ommited or clipped short, yet as a whole, the movie is "a delightful comedy", as written on the package. Both Erin and Alan, played by Hope Davis and Alan Gelfant, are exactly what I had imagined reading the translation! I especially liked the "montage" sequence of personal ads respondents. So hilarious!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: I loved this film. From the beginning, to the end. It was so how it is. I really loved the music. Wait for a rainy day. Skip work. Go get in your favorite pj's, get a glass of wine and a blanket. Ignore the phone and the rest of the world and enjoy this.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent , smart romantic comedy
Review: I really liked this movie a lot. It has a low-key, yet persistent charm and intelligence that sweeps you right along with it the whole way. If Hope Davis hadn't reminded me a little too much of my old girlfriend, I'd give this movie five stars.
Rating:
Summary: Can't wait to BUY this video!!!
Review: I saw this film in a movie theatre, and fell in love! The male lead, Alan Gelfant is SO wonderful! Move over Harrison Ford! The movie is great because it's not the usual, predictible romance film fare, it's creative, unusual, and intriguing. I'm hoping that Mr. Gelfant finds himself on the big screen more and more, he's worth the price of admission alone!
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