Wilson (2017)

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Based on a relatively low-key graphic novel by Daniel Clowes, Wilson is a frustrating black comedy that can't quite come up with the goods to match its leading man Woody Harrelson.In one of his best roles since True Detective and delivering his best big screen turn since he rolled out the cowboy hat for Zombieland in 2009, Woody Harrelson is a delight as the cantankerous, rude, obnoxious and somehow likeable Wilson.A perennial loser who just doesn't get why everyone around him is an idiot and can't quite bring himself to adapt to modern day life, you wouldn't call the character of Wilson a stretch for Harrelson to play but it doesn't take away from the fact that Harrelson completely nails his turn.It's a joy (often cringeworthily so) watching Harrelson interact with actors like Laura Dern, Judy Greer and Margo Martindale and as Wilson begins to gather a greater appreciation for life after he finds out he has a teenage daughter and realises he needs love and friendship in his world, Harrelson is up for the journey but sadly Craig Johnson's film isn't.Working alongside Wilson creator Clowes, Johnson has a tough time balancing the films tonal shifts between oddball comedy, life affirming drama and romantically tinged musings and it often feels like the film is uncomfortable in its own skin as we're taken along from scene to scene and scenarios that worked in the graphic novel don't quite come across as well in the film treatment.We never full connect to Wilson and his relationship with Dern's ex-wife Pippi or his burgeoning friendship with Isabella Amara as his estranged daughter Claire, which makes a large portion of the films middle-section feel rather so-so. The other issue is that while the film often is laugh out loud funny, there is a large percentage of the films jokes that don't hit the way they should, making the film at times awkward when it wasn't even aiming to be.Final Say - Wilson is a slight film, a small-scale character study of a man who's failed to see the meaning of life for many a moon and while Harrelson is brilliant in a role he could undoubtedly play in his sleep, the film around him just never clicks into a gear that would've made this tale something truly special.2 ½ amusement park rides out of 5

In 2017's Wilson (my latest review), Wilson the persona isn't played by a volleyball this time around. It's played by a multi-layered, Woody Harrelson who is in nearly every frame.So yeah, Wilson starts off as rather galling and virtually unwatchable in its first twenty minutes. Then the film sneaks up on you, frothing in its effective inquiry of a man who aches for any human connection. Wilson has Washington-born director Craig Johnson making something along the lines of About Schmidt meets As Good as It Gets (minus any trace of Jack Nicholson). It's small scale and small town, a character study that's easily a slight triumph for Johnson. The majority of Wilson is offensively dry, genuinely coarse, and sadly heartbreaking. I liked how the troupe members looked and acted as if they were related in real life. I also enjoyed Wilson's soft, musical score which seemed to come in at all the right moments. Johnson plots his film as an enclosed journey, where Harrelson's Wilson uncomfortably interacts with strangers and distanced acquaintances over various periods of time (three years gone by to present day to subsequently seventeen years). The whole premise at ninety-four minutes, works as almost every dialogue-driven scene feels bona fide, piteous, and true. Wilson's story involves well, Wilson (Harrelson, whose dramatis personae has no last name). He's a social inept man, a pseudo-lonely man, and a thoroughly jobless man. As Wilson, Woody Harrelson hams it up in almost every clip. With receding hairline, some black rim glasses, and medium stubble, it's a role that's kinda perfect for him. Harrelson's Wilson is like a friendlier Frank Gallagher type and a poorer Melvin Udall type all rolled up into one. You could even throw in Woody's own sad sack Roy Munson for straight measure. Throughout the flick, Wilson tracks down his estranged wife (Pippi played by Laura Dern) and his estranged, adopted daughter (little-known Isabella Amara as Claire). Eventually, he forms a solid reunion between the three before going to jail for kidnapping said daughter (spoiler).In conclusion, I'm gonna include Wilson as an honorable mention for my top ten movie picks of 2017. With its mayberry Minnesota locales, its good casting, and its plethora of sweet and wounding moments, Wilson could be classified as a minor winner. Rating: 3 stars.

Wilson (Woody Harrelson) is a cynical crank. His only two 'friends' are moving to St. Louis. He leaves his dog with Shelly (Judy Greer) to visit his father dying from cancer. He tracks down estranged ex-wife Pippi (Laura Dern) and discovers that she didn't have the abortion 17 years earlier. He finds their daughter Claire (Isabella Amara) given up for adoption.Harrelson is good although the movie doesn't get good until he finds Pippi. It would be better to get there faster. Once they connect with Claire, the movie is funnier with greater stakes. The trio is fun but then the movie keeps jumping ahead and ahead. It would be more compelling to let the trio deal with their issues but the plot drifts away from that. The further away it goes, the less compelling it is. However, it does always have an interesting character study underneath everything and it does allow the characters to deal with their issues.

Woody Harrelson gives a compelling performance in this year's film but the picture is spoiled a lot by the constant profanity by him and Diane Ladd, portraying his former wife.Harrelson is just perfect as an odd-ball character seeking the meaning of life while desperately trying to form relationships with new friends as well as female companionship.He meets up with his ex-wife who informs him that she didn't have an abortion years before but rather gave up the child for adoption. The two go to see the girl and find an obese, unhappy high school girl taunted by classmates.They try to form a relationship with her and take her to Lane's sister. There, Lane's snooty sister discovers that the girl is telling everyone by phone that she is at a friend's house and calls police. Harrelson is locked up for 3 years and the daughter testifies against him with the kidnapping charge, egged on by her irate adopted parents.Harrelson is released after doing his time and Lane informs him that she is moving to Australia with her sponsor. His beloved dog has died and he takes up with the girl who was watching the dog during his absence.There is a very satisfying end to this film dealing with human relationships, rejection, the need to be wanted and ultimate triumph.