LOS ANGELES, CALIF. – Witness why happiness is simply a state of mind when the “unfailingly likeable” (New York Magazine) Wonderful World arrives on Blu-ray Disc and DVD March 16 from Magnolia Home Entertainment. Matthew Broderick (The Producers) “delivers a fully engaged performance” (Hollywood Reporter) as Ben Singer, a failed children’s folk singer, newly unemployed proofreader and every-other-weekend dad to his young daughter. Comforted by smoking marijuana alone and regular chess games with his opinionated Senegalese roommate Ibou (Michael Kenneth Williams; “The Wire”), his world is turned upside down when Ibou falls extremely ill due to a misstep by an insensitive municipal employee. Pouring his energy into a lawsuit against the city as retribution, Ben slowly begins to turn his life around by focusing on his newfound purpose. With the arrival of Ibou’s beautiful and engaging sister Khadi (Sanaa Lathan; A Family That Preys), Ben begins to suspect that it is his own cynicism corroding the beauty around him and that life is just a matter of perspective.
This is the directorial debut of Josh Goldin who “doesn’t settle for easy answers” (New York Magazine) in his earnest script with “soulful qualities” (Variety). Wonderful World also features Jodelle Ferland (Good Luck Chuck), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (“Modern Family”),
Ally Walker (“Sons of Anarchy”), Philip Baker Hall (Zodiac) and a cameo performance by acclaimed musician Dan Zanes, the noted father of the modern independent kids’ music movement. With special features including a character and story featurette, a behind the scenes featurette with Matthew Broderick and Josh Goldin, a behind the scenes montage and HDNet: A Look at Wonderful World, the Blu-ray Disc and DVD will be available for the suggested retail prices of $29.98 and $26.98 respectively.
Synopsis
Ben Singer (Matthew Broderick) is a failed children’s folk singer, a career proofreader, a less-than-extraordinary weekend dad, and perhaps the most negative man alive. Floundering in all aspects of his life, Ben’s only comfort comes from the regular chess games and friendly debates on game theory with his Senegalese roommate Ibou (Michael Kenneth Williams). When Ibou is suddenly struck ill, Ben’s pessimistic worldview seems unequivocally confirmed. It takes an extended visit from Ibou’s sister Khadi (Sanaa Lathan) for Ben to realize that cynicism may be all a matter of perspective.
Bonus Features
• As Soon As Fish Fall Out of The Sky: Character and Story of Wonderful World
• Behind the Scenes: Working with Writer/Director Josh Goldin and Actor Matthew Broderick
• Behind the Scenes Montage
• HDNet: A Look at Wonderful World
