Next Stop Wonderland

Wonderful, wonderful wonderland
This movie is an unexpected gem. I have just finished watching it for the 6th time, and I am still in awe of its subtle humour and the empathy with which it depicts all its characters.

The only thing I don't like about this video is its misleading cover. Hope Davis perches coyly atop a subway train, slit skirt revealing plenty of thigh and low-cut top framing lotsa cleavage. A strappy sandal dangles from one foot. But in fact, one of the myriad beauties of this film is that Erin (deftly played by Davis) is not a frisky, flirtatious kind of gal, and never appears in any outfit more revealing than a nubby turtleck and jeans. Erin is a sensitive soul who has been in pain ever since the death of her beloved father, and she masks her true nature with a prickly veneer. She wants to fall in love but fights it every step of the way.

The cover of the video implies yet another dumb, cutesie comedy with another giggly, adorable heroine (you know... the "You've got Mail"...

Hope Davis: Queen of Wonderland
Do we really need another soppy romantic comedy about thirtysomethings in the big city? Watching NEXT STOP WONDERLAND, the answer is "Yes." As I prepared to be depressed beyond reason by two wonderful people ending up alone (and pleasantly disappointed), I ended up laughing unexpectedly at the humor cropping up in odd places. Alan Gelfant is charming and sympathetic in his hilarious aquarium-heist subplot. Philip Seymour Hoffman (as in every movie he's done) takes a character that could have been a bland stereotype and puts his own indelible stamp on it. H. Jon Benjamin (the slacker, layabout son Ben from the "Dr. Katz" show) is hilarious as one of Erin's loutish blind dates. Holland Taylor brings the frigid high-class sexiness of Judge Roberta Kittleson from "The Practice" and "Ally McBeal" to her role as Erin's mother. Roger Rees is hilarious and sleazy as the biology teacher. It's also refreshing that the movie takes place in...

outstanding in its field
This movie truly left its mark on me. It shows the tedium and courage it takes to sort through the frogs to get to the prince, and how important it is to be at peace with yourself in order to be able to be with someone else. Hope Davis and Alan Gelfant do such a wonderful job at showing how being alone does not necessarily mean being lonely. Roger Rees plays a small role but shines, as always. When you are feeling lonely and hopeless about love, this movie will renew your faith.

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