Rating: 
Summary: A near-flawless gem that's touching, realistic and funny
Review: I watched the video 3 times in a row. The movie felt so right to me the 1st time, but the 2nd and 3rd viewings revealed the seamlessly woven visual, musical and plot threads that, taken together, caused me to conclude that the only way a film could be this good was if it was crafted with love and integrity. Realistic, touching portrayal of the vicissitudes of life in the relationship arena, with a nod in the direction of the almost mystical impact of destiny. Usually when a reviewer says a movive is a feel-good movie, it suggests a certain superficiality or lightness that makes is hard to take such a movie seriously, or you feel insulted by the movie because it is so formulaic and predictable. At the end of this movie you feel good because the male and female leads arrive at their happiness by having the guts to keep on living their lives in the face of all the hurts and disappointments of life, and the general insanity of urban life in particular. Just by having the perseverance to keep on getting up each day and doing their lives, eventually the sun breaks through and they discover each other. The music was great, the portrayal of the Boston setting was accurate, superb, and the acting was, across the board, convincing and just-right in emotional tone. Hope Davis was great, as was her Brazilian suitor. See it. You'll like it.
Rating:
Summary: I Love The Movie!!!
Review: It's a really wonderful movie: heartwarming, funny and it makes you think. Hope Davis is brilliant. And not forgetting the marvellous soundtrack. Prepare to get swept away ...
Rating:
Summary: Simply marvellous!
Review: Its realistic, its funny and it makes you wonder if you'll ever get to meet that somebody who is right for you.
Rating:
Summary: Warm and lovely Ms. Hope + bossa nova = sublime
Review: Love this from start to finish. Smart, warm, and sublime. Bossa nova is utilized perfectly as Hope Davis (who has never looked lovelier) gives a terrific performance. You just love watching and listening to her here. Can we a get a deluxe edition please?
Rating: 
Summary: Small, indie movie is delightful romance
Review: Next Stop Wonderland is a charming romantic comedy from independent director, Brad Anderson. This is his most accessible work to date. While I can use the word 'slight' in describing it, I must quickly add that the same adjective describes most such movies. You Have Mail, My Best Friend's Wedding, The Wedding Singer and many other big budget affairs are all entertaining, diverting and funny. Earthshaking they are not.An independent movie like this one doesn't have the budget for the gloss and glamor of its big sisters. I personally see this as a refreshing change of pace, because as much as I enjoy the Meg Ryans, Julia Roberts and Cameron Diazes of Tinseltown, I can't transfer their screen behavior to real life. The sparkling yet down to earth Hope Davis plays Erin, who returns to her downtown Boston home one afternoon to find her activist boyfriend loading up his car. He's leaving her. She is devastated. Being a very intelligent young woman, she supposes that men aren't worth the trouble and that being alone has its rewards. Even as she arrives at these conclusions, her expressive face shows plenty of doubt. Across town lives Alan [Alan Gelfant], an immensely likable guy in his mid-thirties, who has gone back to school to study marine biology. He's currently a plumber like his Dad, but has come to believe he can improve upon his working-class life. He is a volunteer at the Boston Aquarium. Water, in particular the sea, plays an important part in the movie. Fish do also. You might say that a blowfish named Puff is one of the movie's stars. One day Erin's ditzy, wealthy mother places an ad in the personal section of a Boston newspaper. The problem with this is that it's about Erin. At first outraged, Erin soon finds herself unable to resist listening to the messages that have been lefted in her voice mail. She decides to respond to a few. One of these involves Alan's brother. The fun has begun. Wonderland plays out very much like Sleepless in Seattle, because our two lonely hearts keep coming very close to meeting - but don't - for much of the film. The director and the stars are very assured and professional. They keep the humor rather dry. This is not intended to be a broad comedy. In fact, it explores a philosophical question. Does fate really have a hand in the events in our lives, or do things happen in a random way? Next Stop Wonderland is the type of movie that plays especially well in DVD format. It's not a larger than life vehicle, so a big theater screen doesn't add much to it.
Rating:
Summary: See this movie if you need to step back...
Review: Next Stop Wonderland is one of the most subtle and intelligent movies I have ever seen that also entertained and at the same time opened my eyes to a new kind of happiness. Rather than a flashy, laugh-at-any-cost, catering to the masses film, this one bares an irresistable vulnerability in it's characters and storyline. The wonderful thing about this movie is that it dares to depict an internal struggle that everyone goes through when faced with a transition that maybe you had no control over, in this main character's case a laughably rude break-up. Erin is forced to look in the mirror when left alone, and returns to happiness as a result of internal, private truths and independence. At the same time, we are shown that during this transition she is in actuality being guided by the mysterious coincidences gently put in her path. In the meantime we see the development of a character who turns out to be "meant for her" in a very believable, non-corny way. All of this is accomplished with dry humor, beautiful scenes of Boston, and an absolutely outstanding soundtrack dedicated to the simple, contemplative, simultaneously sad and happy sound of the Brazilian bossa nova. The music is a literally a character in the film: it sets mood, and also serves as conversation piece in the dialogue. By the way, "Wonderland" is an actual subway stop in Boston, right near the aquarium (which is another character in the film, along with it's inhabitants). If you by any chance saw this movie once and expected bells, whistles, and everything spelled out for you, it's worth a second, or fifth or tenth viewing in order to glean the personal meaning that it offers as a gift.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderland wondering MORE.
Review: Nice little movie with fantastic cast. Tidy ending leaving me wanting more. Wondering what will happen next. Realistic movie with a good ending. But just a 4 star from me.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderland wondering MORE.
Review: Nice little movie with fantastic cast. Tidy ending leaving me wanting more. Wondering what will happen next. Realistic movie with a good ending. But just a 4 star from me.
Rating: 
Summary: Next Stop Vomitland
Review: Ok, I actually like the movie. It's one of those well done romantic comedies that I'm particularly fond of where happiness reigns at the end. The actors are sympathetic and well developed as personalities... in fact many of the incidental actors also have interesting personalities. The writing is excellent. I did however find much of the middle of the movie hard to watch because of the faddish jerky "amateur video" style of shooting, where the camera zooms in and out and waves around ceaselessly, not holding still for long stretches. At some point it just got to be too continuous and, fighting motion sickness, I felt like screaming "hold the camera steady"! Even amateur video is not this jerky; modern hand held cameras all have built in steadicam correction. Sadly this otherwise excellent film suffers greatly from this misguided attempt at being artsy. The jerkiness is worst in the bar scenes; it does at least relent enough towards the end to enjoy the happy ending, but the distraction prevents pleasant immersion and connecting with the film.
Rating:
Summary: "(Foolish) Consistancy is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds"
Review: Once in awhile I come apon a small film (no huge stars, big budgets or special effects), that grabs my attention and just takes me away to another place. The end result is just a good feeling as the final credits roll. The small, romantic comedy "Next Stop Wonderland" is one of those movies. The film takes place in Boston. We are witness to Erin (a very good Hope Davis) being dumped on her own inner city door step by her flakey enviormentalist, activist boyfriend (the always amazing, Phillip Seymour Hoffman). This mid thirties, registered nurse is pretty, smart, intellectual and quite cynical about her relationships with people and especially the opposite sex. This is born out, when her busy-body mother (Holland Taylor) puts a 'personals ad' in a local paper for her. We watch as Erin has a series of 'dates' at the same bar with the rather loathsome respondants, who have no chance, when they try to make small talk, use their best lines and try to match wits with this verbally adept, cynical women. Simultaneously we also meet Alan (Alan Galfant), a former plumber, who is making a mid life career change by going to school full time to become a marine biologist. He is trying to stay on a straight and narrow path by studying hard. Unfortunately he gets in trouble with some loansharks, who are also involved in some controversial dealings with the local aquarium. Alan, who also happens to do an internship at the aquarium, is called apon by the loansharks for a special 'favor' to repay his debt. In a way this movie is really about how much fate & chance play in our lives and relationships. Several characters have out and out discussions about the subject. We watch as Erin & Alan's lives in one way or another, unknowingly intersect in many rather interesting ways, without the two ever meeting each other. Yes, we all know what's going to eventually happen by the end of the film between these two lost souls. But that isn't really a big deal. The fun of the movie is watching them get to that moment! On paper these two plotlines (the woman on endless bad dates & the guy in hock to gangsters) might sound a bit old and hokey. But Director/Writer, Brad Anderson's script seems fresh, quite witty and even downright philosophical in it's dialogue and presentation. The cast of this film is uniformly excellent. Hope Davis presents Erin as such an interesting yet flawed woman. You just wish you could have the chance of being one of those lunkheads being verbally demolished on those sad dates! Alan Gelfman gives a very good staight head performance as the no nonsense middle aged student. These two characters are surrounded by a whole ensemble of nosey friends, family, acquaintances and even enemies, who come and go into their lives. Special note should be made of excellent performances from actors Callie Thorne, Robert Klein, Phillipe Seymour Hoffman & Holland Taylor. Finally, mention should be made of the film's excellent soundtrack, which is made up of the classic Bossa Nova sound of Brazil. Several references are made in the movie of that country and it's wonderful culture. This music greatly contributes to the romantic and 'dreamy' tone of the film and gives it an almost continental feel. If you want to see a wonderful, romantic comedy, then I highly recommend that your next stop be "Next Stop Wonderland"!
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