Wilby Wonderful (2004)

Want to see it?

Seen it?

0
1
2
3
4
5
Rate this movie.

Buy it now on DVD

Starting at $15.22

Want to buy it?

Write a review

Discuss it

Add to lists

Recommend it

Get recommendations

Directed by Daniel MacIvor.

The residents of Wilby, Nova Scotia, learn the importance a day can make as scandal weighs heavily on their conscience in the sophomore feature from Canadian playwright-turned-filmmaker Daniel MacIvor. Suicidal Dan Jarvis (James Allodi) is longing to find a reason to live, and as Buddy and Carol Franch's (Paul Gross and Sandra Oh) marriage falls to pieces, single mom Sandra Anderson (Rebecca Jenkins) seeks male companionship to relieve the strain of raising a child alone and unlucky painter Duck MacDonald (Callum Keith Rennie) struggles to overcome his own nagging problems. On the horizon, a shocking revelation threatens to change the way the residents of the small town view both themselves and their neighbors, but how will the people of Wilby deal with such a major problem when they can't even work out their own issues? ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

[more]

Reviews and discussions

Wilby Wonderful on Reel 13
by jjgittes in jjgittes Blog

disliked it.

Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]
"Reel 13’s latest Indie hails from north of the border and features a cavalcade of present day Canadian stars (if there is such a thing), boasting the likes of Sandra Oh, Paul Gross, Maury Chaykin and the current it-girl Ellen Page (before she became super-cute). The film is a wannabe Altman with its multitude of characters intersecting in a small island town (named Wilby) somewhere in Canada (I think they make a reference to being on the East Coast of the country – other than that, I have no idea of the geography). The tone of the piece is less satirical Altman, however, and more sitcom – like Northern Exposure with blander writing and less interesting or believable characters. Ultimately, WW is pretty slow and boring. Very little of the film was able to interest me or capture my attention. Even a subplot involving the controversy over the growing decadence of the landmark park ground known as Wilby Watch felt contrived and forced. The film seems to suffer ... " [More]

Good, eh?
by QFLW in QFLW Blog

liked it.

Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]
"Wilby Wonderful, written and directed by Daniel MacIvorThis film has been referred to as a “dark” comedy, but a better word would be “poignant.” Wilby Wonderful centers on a group of characters in the small Canadian island community of Wilby. Two things are about to happen: the Wilby Days Festival and an ominous disclosure of those who had been involved in “the Watch scandal.” The situations and relationships of the story’s characters become gradually clear.It begins curiously with a long-faced man on a bridge (James Allodi) who is obviously planning to kill himself by jumping off it. His jump is interrupted by the unexpected arrival of a handyman in his truck. Hastily the man climbs back down, but his foot gets stuck between the bridge’s bars as the driver approaches. The two men apparently know each other; the embarrassment of the one is awkwardly heightened by the silent but understanding concern of the other (Callum Keith ... " [More]

Re: Wilby Wonderful
by indieabby88 in Spout Mavens

hasn't rated it.

"When I recieved "Wilby Wonderful" and read the synopsis, I have to say I was a bit underwhelmed. It just didn't sound that exciting. I started watching the movie, trying to be as open-minded as possible, but really under the impression that I was going to come away bored.All I can say is: boy was I wrong. "Wilby Wonderful" is a great movie, full of interesting characters and a setting that almost seems like a character by itself. The movie plays out like a Canadian "Empire Falls" with different plots and subplots that are loosely connected at first, but intertwine more and more as the film goes on.The plots directly (and indirectly) center around 24 hours in the island town of Wilby, Nova Scotia, where the local newspaper is planning to publish the names of several townspeople suspected of homosexual acts at the Wilby Watch, a stretch of woods along the island's coastline.One of the men afraid of being outed to the community is Dan (James Allodi), whose wife divorced him af ... " [More]

Wilby Wonderful
by indieabby88 in Bloggish review blog

hasn't rated it.

Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]
"When I recieved "Wilby Wonderful" and read the synopsis, I have to say I was a bit underwhelmed. It just didn't sound that exciting. I started watching the movie, trying to be as open-minded as possible, but really under the impression that I was going to come away bored.All I can say is: boy was I wrong. "Wilby Wonderful" is a great movie, full of interesting characters and a setting that almost seems like a character by itself. The movie plays out like a Canadian "Empire Falls" with different plots and subplots that are loosely connected at first, but intertwine more and more as the film goes on.The plots directly (and indirectly) center around 24 hours in the island town of Wilby, Nova Scotia, where the local newspaper is planning to publish the names of several townspeople suspected of homosexual acts at the Wilby Watch, a stretch of woods along the island's coastline.One of the men afraid of being outed to the community is Dan (James Allodi), whose wife divorced him af ... " [More]

Wilby Wonderful
by csprague in Spout Mavens

hasn't rated it.

"Wilby Wonderful Directed by Daniel MacIvor. The residents of Wilby, Nova Scotia, learn the importance a day can make as scandal weighs heavily on their conscience in the sophomore feature from Canadian playwright-turned-filmmaker Daniel MacIvor. Suicidal Dan Jarvis (James Allodi) is longing to find a reason to live, and as Buddy and Carol Franch's (Paul Gross and Sandra Oh) marriage falls to pieces, single mom Sandra Anderson (Rebecca Jenkins) seeks male companionship to relieve the strain of raising a child alone and unlucky painter Duck MacDonald (Callum Keith Rennie) struggles to overcome his own nagging problems. On the horizon, a shocking revelation threatens to change the way the residents of the small town view both themselves and their neighbors, but how will the people of Wilby deal with such a major problem when they can't even work out their own issues? ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide " [More]

Tags: dyslexia , festival , house , island , mayor
View all