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Wonderful World

Play trailer Poster for Wonderful World R Released Jan 8, 2010 1h 35m Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
42% Tomatometer 31 Reviews 34% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
With his career as a children's musician essentially dead in the water, Ben Singer (Matthew Broderick) takes a job proofreading for a law firm to pay the rent for an apartment he shares with chess enthusiast and Senegalese immigrant Ibu (Michael K. Williams). When Ibu slips into a diabetic coma, his sister, Khadi (Sanaa Lathan), moves in to care for him, though it's Ben who sees the biggest benefit from Khadi's generosity and kindness as she teaches him how to be a better person.
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Wonderful World

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Critics Consensus

Matthew Broderick gives an appealing performance and director Joshua Goldin's script contains unexpected bursts of honest emotion, but Wonderful World's good intentions can't make up for its lack of originality.

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Critics Reviews

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Dan Kois Washington Post If ... Wonderful World seem(s) a little tired, the film still has its own low-key pleasures, thanks to Broderick's restrained performance and a script that punctuates the inescapable saccharine of its storyline with tart little bursts of anger. Rated: 2.5/4 Jan 29, 2010 Full Review A.O. Scott At the Movies While this movie is earnest and well-intentioned, it doesn't quite work. Jan 19, 2010 Full Review Michael Phillips At the Movies Not quite good enough. Jan 19, 2010 Full Review Jessica Baxter Film Threat Many of Ben's complaints are totally valid. Aug 9, 2017 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews There's ultimately little doubt that the movie is far more successful as a showcase for Broderick's stirring work than as a fully realized drama... Rated: 2.5/4 Oct 22, 2010 Full Review Tricia Olszewski Washington City Paper Matches every clich with a bit of melodrama. Jan 29, 2010 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Munkhchimeg T Peaceful movie about the simplest things can give you peace and pleasure. Very good movie Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/10/24 Full Review Bahad j The young people behind the film have done a great job and it can be seen in this film. I liked it very much. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/10/24 Full Review Audience Member great movie about a Wonderful Worldgreat movie about a Wonderful World Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/25/18 Full Review Audience Member I was disappointed by this movie. I thought it would be so much more interesting, with a sturdy plot and fully developed characters, but it really was not. Instead it was so-so acting, bad accents, and an unbelievable love story. I could never see the characters played by Broderick and Lathan falling in love or even having sex. How they moved from strangers to lovers made absolutely no sense. There was no sign of a "spark" or lust. It was just random. This film could have been much better. I don't think I will watch it again. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member I suppose it's nice to watch on Netflix but I wouldn't buy this Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Audience Member I don't really mind the lack of originality, I still find this movie smart and spiritually uplifting. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Joshua Goldin

Director

Matthew Broderick

Ben Singer

Sanaa Lathan

Khadi

Michael Kenneth Williams

Ibu

Jodelle Ferland

Sandra

Philip Baker Hall

The Man

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Wonderful World

Michael K. Williams as Ibu in "Wonderful World." Matthew Broderick as Ben in "Wonderful World." (L-R) Jodelle Ferland as Sandra and Sanaa Lathan as Khadi in "Wonderful World." Sanaa Lathan as Khadi in "Wonderful World." Philip Baker Hall as The Man in "Wonderful World." (L-R) Matthew Broderick as Ben, Dan Zanes as Sweeny and James Burton as McRory in "Wonderful World." Writer-director Joshua Goldin on the set of "Wonderful World." (L-R) Matthew Broderick as Ben and Michael K. Williams as Ibu in "Wonderful World." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis With his career as a children's musician essentially dead in the water, Ben Singer (Matthew Broderick) takes a job proofreading for a law firm to pay the rent for an apartment he shares with chess enthusiast and Senegalese immigrant Ibu (Michael K. Williams). When Ibu slips into a diabetic coma, his sister, Khadi (Sanaa Lathan), moves in to care for him, though it's Ben who sees the biggest benefit from Khadi's generosity and kindness as she teaches him how to be a better person.
Director
Joshua Goldin
Producer
Miranda Bailey, Matthew Leutwyler, Glenn Williamson
Screenwriter
Joshua Goldin
Distributor
Magnolia Pictures
Production Co
Ambush Entertainment
Rating
R (Language|Some Drug Use|Sexual Content)
Genre
Drama, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 8, 2010, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 31, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA)
$8.6K
Runtime
1h 35m
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