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Wonder Wheel

kdk December 1, 2017
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Read Time:2 Minute, 28 Second

There’s no filmmaker in Hollywood as prolific as Woody Allen, who hasn’t gone a year without releasing a new film since Gerald Ford was President. Some have been remarkable, while others have been forgettable—yet, every year, he shows up. Now he celebrates his 82nd birthday with the release of Wonder Wheel, another one of his nostalgic New York dramas.



Wonder Wheel is set against the colorful backdrop of 1950s Coney Island. Kate Winslet’s Ginny is a former actress who finds herself stuck waiting tables and living in an apartment in the middle of the amusement park with her husband, Humpty (Jim Belushi), and her troubled son. The only thing that gives her some hope is Mickey (Justin Timberlake), a wide-eyed lifeguard who dreams of being a playwright. The two begin an affair that’s the perfect escape for Ginny—until her stepdaughter, Carolina (Juno Temple), shows up at their door and shakes up their comfortably dysfunctional existence.



Allen isn’t just a prolific filmmaker; he’s also a gifted one. Some of his films are witty and thoughtful in his own chatty signature style. Others, however, are filled with unrealized potential. They’re the kind of films that you can see what was intended but just didn’t pan out. And Wonder Wheel is one of those films.



Set in the middle of the beloved beachside attraction, this Coney Island drama is bright and colorful and noisy, often lit by the ever-changing glow of carnival lights. It’s vibrant costumes and tinny music and red and blue illumination. It’s fantasy and summer romance to help the characters escape the heartbreak and disappointment of their real lives.



Unfortunately, though, the pieces just don’t come together in the way that they should. The dialogue often feels unnatural, resulting in characters who seem like they’re trying way too hard to be dramatic. Those characters, too, are extremely over-the-top. Belushi appears to be attempting to channel John Goodman in his role as Humpty—but, mostly, he just ends up yelling a lot. Winslet clearly tries to build on her character’s past as an actress by making her melodramatic—but she just comes off as erratic. But perhaps the worst fit is Timberlake, a lovable star who’s simply too smooth to play a character in a Woody Allen movie (and whose makeup looks every bit as smooth—and maybe a little bit plastic). Any attempts to make his character seem hesitant and insecure feel insincere—and his lengthy narration and monologues feel stilted and awkward.



Somewhere in here, there’s a thoughtful, artistic film—but with the overwritten dialogue and awkward performances, Wonder Wheel often feels more like mediocre community theater than an Oscar-worthy production. The good news, though, is that when one Woody Allen movie doesn’t really work, there’s always another one right around the corner.





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About Post Author

kdk

Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it. Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course. As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com). Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
kdk@nightsandweekends.com
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kdk

Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.

Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.

As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).

Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.

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