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The Great New Wonderful (2006)
Released By: First Independent Pictures   Rating: R   In Theaters: 6/23/2006
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Studio: First Independent Pictures
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Danny Leiner
Language: English
Official Website: http://www.firstindependentpictures.com/gnw/gnw.html
Theatrical Release: 6/23/2006
Home Video Release: 9/12/2006
Cast: Olympia Dukakis, Judy Greer, Jim Gaffigan, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Tom McCarthy
Published ID: 721510
UPC: 855280001670,
Plot: A collection of everyday New Yorkers struggle to carry on with their increasingly stressful lives a year after the city was forever changed by the 9/11 terrorist attacks in Brooklyn-native Danny Leiner's ensemble-cast slice of life. Dr. Trabulous (Tony Shalhoub) is a gifted psychologist with a special knack for truly understanding his patients. When an ordinary businessman (Jim Gaffigan) who has witnessed a terrible office tragedy seeks to gain the insight of the seasoned professional, Dr. Trabulous helps to release a hidden rage that has slowly been eating away at the man's troubled soul. Meanwhile, in the culinary world, Great New Wonderful pastry shop proprietor Emme Keeler (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is about to discover that unseating the woman known as the Queen of Cake (Edie Falco) doesn't come without some heavy consequences. Elsewhere in the city, troubled couple Allison (Judy Greer) and David Burbage (Tom McCarthy) fight to save their marriage and break through to their curiously overconfident ten-year-old boy. Avi (Naseeruddin Shah) and Satish (Sharat Saxena) are immigrants and best friends who work together as security guards and wander the city making observations about contemporary America until their opposing perspectives are challenged by an unexpected development in their lives that neither saw coming. And despite the comfort she takes in her daily routine, Julie Berman (Olympia Dukakis) discovers that her passion for life has long since died, until a visit with a childhood friend helps her to realize just what she's been missing all these lonely years. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
Meh - I wouldn't pay for it
Added 1/3/2008

I watched this movie on cable. Great line up of actors. Most are wasted on two-dimensional characters. You know these actors from their previous and subsequent work - so you expect excellence. Unfortunately, their presence distracts from the story. I love Steven Colbert, but I only enjoyed his presence once he started to crack off one-liners. I think the 9-11 subtext is a red haring. After reflecting a few hours, I think the moral of at least one story line is - get rid of your mentally disturbed kid if you ever want any sanity/sex life. Perhaps that's where the dark humor comes in . . . . Who knows? If this movie qualifies as a "brilliant comedy", then Old Yeller is a laugh riot. Greenwich Village is missing its idiot.
0 out of 2 people found this helpful.
Read between the lines
Added 9/17/2007

This is not a comedy but a deep insightful snapshot into the lives of ordinary New Yorkers in the aftermath of 9/11. Though 9/11 is not referenced directly by any of the charachters you get the sense that all are undergoing profound changes within themselves during the course of the year following the attack. This was a brilliant movie if you are able to read between the lines. (I have no idea why this is being billed as a comedy?)
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Added 8/30/2007

I picked it up because of Colbert and Gaffigan's names on the cover figuring if they chose to be involved in it it would at least be creative if not funny. It's just slow and boring. Another formulaic attempt to find beauty and tragedy in the minuitae of everyday human existance. The characters and situations are more developed than those in 21 Grams or Coffee And Cigarettes but not as much as those in American Beauty or You And Me And Everyone We Know.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
What a disappointment...
Added 8/18/2007

This drama is so stupid. One man is driven to madness, a child that has anger problems,a man obsessed with cheating on his wife, and a woman trying to be the best at her job. The only thing that remotely brings the topic of 9/11 is the pscho evaluation. I guess the writers want you to guess the child has anger issues because of 9/11. THis movie was all over the place in direction. THe acting was good and they had a great cast but obviously the writers didn't know what to do with them. Definitely not a family movie!
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
The Dull, Tired and Never Wonderful.
Added 7/23/2007

The above, is a much better title for this so-called movie. The reason they let you watch each of the five, 20 minute stories separately (if you choose to), is because they're all really just shorts. Nothing funny about this film, except for the Dvd cover, which only gets the actor's names correct. Every other word on it is a complete lie. It's not even good, never mind brilliant. Comedy? Nope! It's a movie about angst, fear, depression and who knows what else.

I always love Maggie G., but here, her part is just too small for me to really care about her. Stephen Colbert's bit part as the school Principal was smoothly acted (again it's too short to care much), and yes, it was nice to see Rosemarie Dewitt (co-star of the recently cancelled Fox show, "Standoff") have a brief 1 minute or so scene in this film, but it was a bland scene, just like this entire movie. Except for maybe the two brief shots of Judy Greer's absolutely perfect rear end (too bad she always had something covering it). I think her derriere is actually "The Great New Wonderful". So, maybe it's not false advertising after all.

Finally, none of the stories have any really good endings. They just end, like each of our own days do. How profound...and boring. I give this 1 and a half stars (the half star is for Judy Greer's best feature; although, I enjoyed her role in the film the most, even without her backside's "Oscar"-worthy performance...for Best Supporting Asstress).

2 out of 4 people found this helpful.
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