THE GREAT NEW WONDERFUL
An insightful, redemptive drama for mature adults.
Should You Watch It?
THE GREAT NEW WONDERFUL is a moving, sometimes hilarious drama about people carrying grief, shock, sadness, and unease as the anniversary of 9/11 approaches. Its five interwoven stories offer sudden, insightful glimpses into people dealing with loss and tragedy.
The film’s strongest idea is also its most hopeful: admitting that we are lost and powerless can be the first step toward redemption, healing, and peace. But that redemptive worldview comes wrapped in strong foul language, one depicted married-sex scene, implied homosexuality, and other troubling material.
If you are an adult or older teenager seeking a thoughtful, emotionally powerful drama, it may be worth your time—but it is not suitable for children or young teens. The practical answer: watch it only if your household is prepared for its mature content.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESAs the one-year anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack approaches, five New York City stories unfold around 12 characters.
An office worker confronts buried rage. A pastry-business owner worries about an important contract. A young married couple struggles with their disturbed 10-year-old son. Two security guards wrestle with opposing outlooks on life, while an elderly woman reconnects with a childhood friend.
Their separate stories gradually begin to intersect.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is a strongly made and emotionally effective film. The movie expertly weaves together five stories with 12 characters, building emotional power as the separate lives move toward one another.
The cast is a major strength. Olympia Dukakis, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Tony Shalhoub, and Jim Gaffigan deliver wonderful, sudden insights into people dealing with loss and tragedy. The film is also sometimes hilarious, though its ending is anti-climactic.
The Worldview
The film offers a quiet, subtle moral and spiritual perspective rather than overt religious instruction. It presents people overwhelmed by angst, shock, sadness, and unease, with those feelings building toward uncontrolled rage. Its central redemptive insight is that acknowledging our lost and powerless condition can begin a path toward healing and peace.
The movie includes light redemptive and pro-American qualities, including church bells ringing on an important national anniversary and a man saying, “God forgive me.” Yet those qualities are complicated by immoral pagan content and elements favoring acceptance of homosexuality, including two peripheral homosexual characters without explicit homosexual content.
The film’s moral vision is strongest when it recognizes that people need honesty about their brokenness rather than more denial. Scripture similarly connects confession with restoration: “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James 5:16).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Light redemptive worldview with light moral, pro-American qualities including church bells ring on important national anniversary and man says, "God forgive me," spoiled or mitigated by some immoral pagan content and light politically correct elements favoring acceptance of homosexuality, including two peripheral homosexual characters, but no explicit homosexual content; 18 obscenities (including some "f" words), four strong profanities and five light profanities; light, mostly implied violence, including 10-year-old boy gets in trouble for hitting classmates, off-screen suicide mentioned, distraught woman loses control and hits her fists against her husband's body, 10-year-old boy talks violently while playing, man angrily waves chair around, and man hits his psychiatrist off screen and later we see psychiatrist with a minor head wound exiting building; depicted married sex in one scene, implied homosexuality in two peripheral characters, elderly woman thinks about committing adultery, and couple kiss in bed together but get interrupted; implied nudity, upper male nudity and women in underwear; alcohol use; smoking; and, strong miscellaneous immorality such as distraught parents finally abandon their disturbed 10-year-old son, psychiatrist intimidates patient, businesswoman mocks her competition, and angry people lose control.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film’s characters carry grief, fear, and anger as the anniversary of 9/11 approaches. How can bringing hidden pain into the light become a step toward healing?
Psalm 34:18 · James 5:16One character says, “I think I’m lost.” When have you felt powerless or uncertain, and where does Scripture direct people who feel that way?
Psalm 46:1–2 · Proverbs 3:5–6Several characters lose control of their anger. What does the Bible say anger can produce, and how can you respond before it becomes destructive?
James 1:19–20 · Ephesians 4:26–27The film points toward redemption and peace without making strong overt religious claims. What does Christian redemption offer that self-awareness alone cannot?
Romans 5:1 · 2 Corinthians 5:17The Final Word
THE GREAT NEW WONDERFUL is insightful, moving, and sometimes hilarious, with a cast that finds surprising humanity in people facing loss. Its strong language, sexual content, and mature themes make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, it is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For other choices, see.
