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WICKER PARK

"Lies Will Catch Up to You"

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What You Need To Know:

WICKER PARK builds suspense by keeping the plot details a secret until the end, but this tactic backfires and only frustrates and bores the audience. Josh Hartnett plays a successful photographer with a beautiful fiancée. Regardless of his near-perfect life, he can’t forget his first love, who disappeared years ago. When he visits his hometown and sees her in a restaurant, he begins to look for clues to find her. His zeal, however, makes him look more like a stalker than a detective. The trail leads to a third woman, with whom he has a brief dalliance. With persistent searching, he learns that nothing has happened as it seemed.

WICKER PARK’s story becomes so convoluted that it’s difficult to sustain interest until the explanation at the end. Further, most moviegoers will figure out the big plot twist long before it is revealed. The filmmakers throw in every conceivable hook to attract a teenage audience – underwear scenes, drinking, a soundtrack with up-and-coming bands – but all that is in vain because the story is so flat. Although the most morally out of control character is denounced, the movie still sports a lazy, liberal attitude toward sex and cohabitation.

Content:

(Pa, LL, S, N, AA, D, MM) Light pagan worldview in which people do as they please; 12 obscenities and five profanities; no violence; implied fornication several times, couple wearing underwear kisses, and cohabitation; implied nudity after sex; couple drinks alcohol before tryst; smoking; and, stalking, spying, habitual lying, and extreme manipulation.

GENRE: Suspense Thriller

More Detail:

WICKER PARK is based on an Italian movie but removes any excitement or sophistication that the original might have held. To build suspense, the movie keeps the plot details a secret until the end, but this tactic backfires and probably will only frustrate and bore the audience.

Matthew, played by Josh Hartnett, is a successful advertising photographer with a beautiful fiancée. Regardless of his near-perfect life, he can’t forget his first love who disappeared years ago. When he visits his hometown and sees her in a restaurant, he begins to look for clues to find her. His zeal makes him look more like a stalker than a detective. The trail leads to a third woman, Alex, with whom he has a brief dalliance. With persistent searching, he learns that nothing has happened as it seemed.

The movie holds its secrets until the end and then tells you everything in a burst of flashbacks, a technique similar to THE USUAL SUSPECTS. Meanwhile, the story becomes so convoluted that it’s difficult to sustain interest until the denouement. The situations are contrived and defy common sense and good storytelling at every turn. Further, most moviegoers will figure out the big plot twist long before it is revealed.

The filmmakers throw in every conceivable hook to attract a teenage audience – underwear scenes, drinking, a soundtrack with up-and-coming bands – but all of that is in vain because the story is so flat. Although the most morally out of control character is shamed and denounced, the movie still sports a lazy, liberal attitude toward sex and cohabitation.

Ineffective and boring, WICKER PARK should draw the ire of the Chicago Chamber of Commerce.

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.