Line #15 Film/WonderBoys


1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wonderboys.jpg]]
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3	''Wonder Boys'' is a 2000 comedy-drama film written by Creator/SteveKloves and directed by Creator/CurtisHanson. Based on the [[Literature/WonderBoys 1995 novel]] by Creator/MichaelChabon, it revolves around Pittsburgh college professor/novelist Grady Tripp (Creator/MichaelDouglas) who, over the course of a weekend, has to handle a troubled student (Creator/TobeyMaguire), his unfinished novel (also called ''Wonder Boys''), his pregnant girlfriend (the chancellor of the college and his boss' wife), a purloined jacket and a dead dog.
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5	The film also stars Creator/KatieHolmes, Creator/RobertDowneyJr and Creator/FrancesMcDormand. It was nominated for three UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s and earned Music/BobDylan a Best Original Song Oscar for "Things Have Changed."
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8	!!This movie contains examples of:
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10	* AdaptationalAttractiveness: Chabon describes both Grady and Sara in the novel as being noticeably overweight, but are respectively played by the fairly slim Michael Douglas and Frances Mcdormand in the movie.
11	* AdaptationDistillation: The film is largely faithful to the novel across the board, with the only major omissions being the extended interlude at Grady's in-laws, Grady's aborted reconciliation with Emily, and the revelation of [[AmbiguouslyJewish James' possible Jewish ancestry]].
12	* BrainyBrunette: James.
13	* ConsummateLiar: [[spoiler:James Leer.]]
14	* {{Doorstopper}}: Grady's 2000+ page book.
15	-->'''James''': Is... ''all of that'' single space?
16	* EruditeStoner: Grady.
17	* EvilDetectingDog: Sara's husband is clueless about her affair with Grady. His blind(!) dog, Poe, on the other hand...
18	* TheGhost: Grady's (now ex-) wife Emily, who appears only in a single photograph and is neither seen nor heard from otherwise.
19	* {{MacGuffin}}: Marilyn Monroe's jacket.
20	* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: Vernon Hardapple.
21	* ParentalAbandonment: [[spoiler:James tells Grady his parents are dead and he's being raised by his grandparents. [[ConsummateLiar Or not]].]]
22	* RaceLift: In the novel, Grady's ex-wife Emily (and her two siblings) were adopted from Korea, but the sole photograph we see of Emily in the movie depicts her as caucasian; her siblings do not appear at all.
23	* ShootTheDog: [[spoiler:Literally. Poe had it coming, though.]]
24	* SleepingDummy: [[spoiler:Poe finally comes in handy]].
25	* ThinkingOutLoud: James narrates as he's carried out of an auditorium.
26	-->'''James''': The doors made so much noise!
27	-->'''Grady''': Is he all right?
28	-->'''James''': It was so embarrassing! He had to be carried out.
29	-->'''Terry''': He's fine. He's narrating.
30	-->'''James''': They were going to the restroom. But would they make it in time?
31	* TeacherStudentRomance: Hannah Green wants to start one with Grady. He's tempted.
32	* ToughActToFollow: InUniverse. Grady's previous book ''The Arsonist's Daughter''.
33	* TrophyRoom: Walter's sports memorabilia closet.
34	* WholesomeCrossdresser: Miss Antonia Sloviak.
35	* WorldOfSnark
36	* WritersBlock: Subverted. Grady can't ''stop'' writing.

Context Film / WonderBoys