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Wicker Park
- Review Date: December 27, 2004
- PG-13
- Genre: Drama
- 2004
Common Sense Media says
This dopey thriller isn't worth your time.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie has brief strong language, some explicit sexual references, and non-explicit sexual situations. Characters drink, and one becomes tipsy. There are tense and suspenseful situations and some jump-out-at-you surprises.
What's the story?
WICKER PARK centers around Matt (Josh Hartnett), an executive who has recently returned to Chicago after two years away. He has a good job and is about to propose to his girlfriend, who conveniently happens to be the sister of his boss. The three of them are at a swanky restaurant, having lunch with important clients to celebrate a deal Matt is about to close in China. Matt's girlfriend slips him some pills to help him sleep on the plane and he swallows them at the restaurant. Then he hears the voice of a woman on the phone and the last two years seem to evaporate. It sounds like the voice of Lisa (Diane Kruger), the woman who broke his heart. Flashback time. Matt is a sweet, shy, artistic guy working in a photography store. He glimpses a face on a videotape brought into his store for repair. And then he sees the same woman across the street. He follows her. He meets her at his best friend's shoe store, pretending to be a salesman. He orders the black shoes with red soles in her size. They fall in love. And then...well, we don't find out what happened then for a while as the movie shifts back and forth between the past and present and between different characters' points of view.
Is it any good?
Wicker Park is a dopey thriller that sets up an intriguing puzzle and a nicely spooky vibe and then spoils it all by explaining too much and having that explanation be both achingly obvious and sometimes unintentionally hilarious, retroactively dissipating any creepiness created earlier and dumb-ifying the entire story even further. It's one of those movies that depends on its characters' inability to make a phone call or ask a question to straighten things out.
Matthew Lillard flounders in an attempt to play Matt's best friend. Rose Byrne as a mystery woman who shares Matt's girlfriend's name and shoes is slightly more interesting than the drippy character she plays, but her efforts to play Viola/Cesario in Twelfth Night (a character in disguise who does not tell her love, get it?) are simply dreadful. Harnett and Kruger move through the story like sleepwalkers who hope they won't wake up until the movie is over. I know how they feel.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the dividing line between love and obsession. Do you believe in love at first sight? What do you need to know about someone to be willing to make a commitment?
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AGE
Don't waste your time watching this movie like i did
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AGE
Please Don't Watch
This movie simply was not very good. The entire premise of the movie was ridiculous- it took place in the modern day, yet miraculously, none of the characters had cell phones! Of course, this would have meant that the movie would have only taken up about half an hour. In addition to this, most of the scenes were seen several times in the points of view of different characters. It became exhausting after a while to have to see the same things over and over and over and over... you get the point.
Don't pay to see this movie- it just isn't worth it.
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AGE
perfect for older teens
to much sexual content
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AGE
Fun to watch - a favorite!
I had to change my star rating from 3 to 4, because I realized that it's one of my favorites! I admit, this movie was confusing the first time I watched it. Friends have asked me to explain, and now that they get it, they like it too. Aside from the switching from past to present most of the time, the story is actually interesting and kept me watching. It's a fun/twisted story about obsession and jealousy. I wouldn't call it a thriller exactly, but the entire movie is mysterious and you must watch it from beginning to end to understand it! The ending was beautiful! Sexual references - yes, but nothing explicit (no nudity and just two quick brief sex scenes), language is not bad at all, no violence. Still skeptical? Look it up on IMDB and view the high rating and mostly great reviews!!
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| Studio: | MGM/UA |
| Director: | Paul McGuigan |
| Cast: | Diane Kruger, Josh Hartnett, Matthew Lillard |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 90 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | September 3, 2004 |
| DVD release date: | December 24, 2004 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | sexuality and language |
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