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I had an ulterior motive for renting this movie (though I'm sure if you're reading this review on this particular page, then you can most likely a) figure out said motive, and b) empathize completely with it).  There, I just wanted to get that out of the way before I started because I would like to apologize.  I would like to apologize (repetition is fun!) for my hesitation in seeing this film.  It was because it was labeled "romantic comedy" I promise.  No, wait, I take it back, it was because it was labeled "romantic comedy" and I didn't think four minutes of Phil was enough to suffer through a formula film.  But ohhhh, the loveliness of my errant ways.

Next Stop Wonderland is essentially about fate.  The film opens with our charming antagonist, Erin Castleton (Hope Davis), walking home through lovely Boston.  She arrives home to find her Earth/Social Activist boyfriend Sean (Yep, it's Phil, kids!) packing up his station wagon.  He hands her a tape and says he's leaving her this time, for good.   So, taking the VCR, and leaving the cat, Sean is gone, leaving Erin feeling abandoned, but not entirely heartbroken.  As her life seems to get back to normal, her mother decides its no good to be alone, and takes out a very inviting, though inaccurate personal ad in Erin's name.  Erin is not all too thrilled with the prospect of dating services, and decides she's actually doing fine on her own, so she ignores it.  Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Alan Monteiro (Alan Gelfant), plumber-cum-marine biology student spends his time studying, volunteering at the Boston Aquarium, and trying to repay his debt to Frank(Victor Argo),  a big-shot moneylender.  His two brothers and friend discover Erin's ad, and place a bet on who can "make it" with her first (and to give you an idea of how much action these guys get, they define 'making it' as a kiss on the lips).  They invite Alan in on the bet, but he finds the whole thing too ridiculous, and goes about his business which is comprised lately of more studying, and kidnapping the beloved Puff the Blowfish, as per request of Frank.

Back in Erin's world, she discovers while at lunch with some co-workers that one of her good friends met his current boyfriend through a dating service, and a lively discussion about belief in fate ensues.  She decides to give her ad a chance, and thus begins the cycle of events that leads to her meeting Alan. Now, this may sound like a formula, but it's not the plot that makes this movie so interesting.  It's its honest look at people and relationships, and the expectations that come with both.  There are very few stereotypes in this film.  These people all truly seem to be human.  Even the token "losers" have pieces of them that make them real people. And actually, I think it may be just as much the performance as it is the writing.  The whole cast is wonderful (and for Dr. Katz/Home Movies fans, Alan's friend is played by the voice of Ben and Coach McGirk (respectively), H. Jon Benjamin, who might I say looks darling in the flesh). When Erin and Alan finally meet, there's no over-dramatic music or ridiculous situations that make you go "oh, please"  It's just two people meeting.  The only thing that makes it so spactacular is that you already know both of these people so well, and you've seen both of their journeys as separate entities until this point.  And while you won't be rolling in the aisles, there is definitely comedy, but it's subtle things (I mentioned the video-tape break-up and Sean's taking the VCR already, it's stuff like that) that make you smile and add to the over-all neatness of this flick. And now, because I know the audience this is intended for, I would like to talk specifically about Sean.  Phil did wonderful justice to this character.  Because, in keeping with the spirit of the film, Sean is not just the "loser" boyfriend.  After leaving, he does try and come back to her (with his hair cut, no less), disenchanted and alienated from the cause that he was so strong in defending.  (He helped save a reservation, only to have the Indian tribe build a casino.)  "It's all about money," he laments.  And in these few last seconds you get with him, you see not only why Erin ended up with him in the first place, but why he won't work with her now.  He's not whiny or pathetic or in any other way the stereotypical "loser ex-boyfriend" he's just not what she needs or wants now.   And Phil plays it wonderfully.  But then, we've come to expect nothing less.

whew.  that was exhausting.

-- Amy