The Great New Wonderful

2006

The Great New Wonderful

Critics Consensus

Set in post-9/11 New York, this largely evocative dramedy interweaves the stories of five disconnected individuals who share an unspoken emotional malaise that shadows their attempts at returning to normal life.

73%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 41

45%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 18,687
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The Great New Wonderful Photos

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Movie Info

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.

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Cast

Maggie Gyllenhaal
as Emme
Tom McCarthy
as David
Judy Greer
as Allison
Naseeruddin Shah
as Avi
Tony Shalhoub
as Dr. Trabulous
Olympia Dukakis
as Judie
Edie Falco
as Safarah
Will Arnett
as Danny
Seth Gilliam
as Clayton
Rosemarie DeWitt
as Debbie
Anita Gillette
as Lanie
Billy Donner
as Charlie
Tony Kushner
as Himself
Tom Ford (VIII)
as Mr. Jeffers
Jim Gaffigan
as Sandie
Sharat Saxena
as Satish
Dick Latessa
as Jerry
Stephen Colbert
as Mr. Peersall
Jeremy Shamos
as Young Rabbi
Bill Donner
as Charlie
Jim Parsons
as Justin
Martha Millan
as Alexa
Ed Setrakian
as Henry
Marilyn Chris
as Phyllis
Kapil Bawa
as General Ganjee
Sam Catlin
as Congressman Blenick
Ari Graynor
as Lisa Krindel
Priscilla Shanks
as Duff Krindel
Mario Polit
as Elvis Cedeno
Meredith Ostrom
as Anita
Nicky "Pop" Anest
as Lou
Julie Dretzin
as Julie Driscoll
Alexis Dziena
as Angie
Alex McCord
as Jesslyn
Nancy McDoniel
as Agnes Whitehead
Bernie McInerney
as Wexler Whitehead
K'Dee Miller
as Rhonda
Rajika Puri
as Sucheta
Finnerty Steeves
as Isabelle
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Critic Reviews for The Great New Wonderful

All Critics (41) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (30) | Rotten (11)

  • Not all the little stories and vignettes work (some seem almost pointless), but most of the performances, especially a haughty luncheon under a veil of politeness with Gyllenhaal and Falco, are spot on, involving and revealing.

    Aug 31, 2006 | Rating: B-

    Bob Longino

    Atlanta Journal-Constitution
    Top Critic

  • It may be the 9/11 movie to which the most people can relate. For most of us, that date wasn't about personal heroics or losing loved ones or survival. It was about processing the impossible and realizing that life, with all its ups and downs, must go on.

    Aug 25, 2006 | Rating: A- | Full Review…

    Chris Vognar

    Dallas Morning News
    Top Critic

  • Luminous, affecting, and at times humorous take on 9/11's aftermath.

    Aug 18, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…

    Bill Stamets

    Chicago Sun-Times
    Top Critic

  • While the film rarely imparts a true sense of messy everyday feelings and the strife of real life, the fine actors take your mind off the shortcomings.

    Aug 17, 2006 | Rating: 2.5/4

    Michael Phillips

    Chicago Tribune
    Top Critic

  • Set on the one-year anniversary of the twin towers' collapse, the drama interweaves five stories about New Yorkers. It's a testament to the city's resolve to resume life as normal.

    Aug 10, 2006 | Rating: 3/4

    Jeff Strickler

    Minneapolis Star Tribune
    Top Critic

  • Writer Sam Catlin and director Danny Leiner have fashioned an alert, shrewdly observed portrait of a moment in time.

    Jul 20, 2006

    F.X. Feeney

    L.A. Weekly
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (41)

Audience Reviews for The Great New Wonderful

  • Jan 03, 2010
    Capitalizing on tragedy - blatantly and superficially. The script is too unspecific. It expects the audience to fill in the blanks of these characters' lives with our own interesting anecdotes and vocabulary. There's nothing insightful or different about these people. They're soooo regular. Just regular people dealing with 9/11. A slice of life that is too half-baked. I was hoping to like another Danny Leiner movie, but I guess the only similarity between this and <i>H&K</i> is the Indian demographic. In all seriousness though, I found Satish's and Avi's characters the most intriguing for their seamless melding of Hindi and English.
    Alice S Super Reviewer
  • Nov 30, 2007
    Much less crappy than I thought it would be. A handful of good character studies done by good actors made it decent. Especially Tony Shaloub and his A-hole character that he always seems to play when he isn't Monk. Plus Judy Greer is nice to look at.
    Curtis L Super Reviewer
  • Jun 29, 2007
    [font=Century Gothic]Set in September 2002 in New York City, "The Great New Wonderful" consists of five separate storylines:[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]Satish(Sharat Saxena) and Avi(Naseeruddin Shah) are two bodyguards who go about their jobs.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]Judy Hillerman(Olympia Dukakis) is hardly speaking to her husband, when she runs into an old school friend.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]A boy, Charlie Burbage(Billy Donner), has been acting out again.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]Sandie(JIm Gaffigan) is visited at work by a psychologist, Dr. Trabulous(Tony Shalhoub).[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]Emme(Maggie Gyllenhaal) is a high-end pastry chef.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"The Great New Wonderful" is a too earnest take on a disparate group of New Yorkers. There is not a lot of story here. Instead, the movie tries to rely alone on mood to convey the state of New York City one year after the 9/11 attacks, but does not come close to succeeding even with a fine cast and some good thoughts about how life is precious.[/font]
    Walter M Super Reviewer
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