Written by Academy Award nominated writer Daniel Clowes (the man behind 2001’s Ghost World), and based upon his 2010 graphic novel, Wilson is the story of a lonely and neurotic middle-aged man who reunites with his estranged wife after seventeen years and meets the teenage daughter he never knew he had. Starring the great Woody Harrelson, this black comedy mixed drama from director Craig Johnson (The Skeleton Twins) is a heartfelt and wonderfully hysterical slice of independent cinema; so pleasing it might just be the unexpected comedy of the year.
Fifty-something-year-old Wilson (Harrelson) is a good-hearted, yet slightly mentally disturbed recluse, whose only friend is his pet dog Pepper. Following the sudden death of his father, he decides on a whim to track down his ex-wife who left him with no explanation nearly two decades prior, eventually finding her after a hilarious set of circumstances. Reuniting with his once beloved Pippi (Laura Dern) and rekindling old sparks, Wilson soon learns he unknowingly fathered a child who was given up for adoption shortly after the split, a shocking revelation that instead excites him beyond belief.
Setting out to meet his teenage daughter Claire (Isabella Amara) for the first time, Wilson bands together with Pippi in a desperate attempt to connect with the child he never realised he had. Shooting for his only shot at happiness and attempting to re-create the family he should have had in the first place, a series of outrageously amusing and often twisted incidents play out over the course of a few days which soon turn into years.
“Remember when you were a kid… every day seemed like it was in technicolour. Then you grow up”, Wilson deliberates as we get to know a man on his own journey of self-discovery, an individual indifferent to his social awkwardness and comfortably open with speaking his mind. Interpreting life the way he sees it, often with disdain for other people and not afraid to fire insults back and forth to those he deems necessary, here is a character stumbling his way through the rocky terrain of his very existence, questioning himself while obsessing over the past. With zero filters and his complete honesty often making for the most hilarious fits of abrasive humour, Harrelson KILLS IT with a solid performance on which the entire film is built, one that never would have worked without him.
With a long and successful career as one of the best character actors to ever grace our screens, here he vanishes into yet another role, almost unrecognisable as he eats up every moment with absolute conviction and his comedic timing teamed well with an enthusiastic energy make for an enjoyable charismatic character, damn right funny and one you’ll find yourself rooting for the entire time.
Advantageous for all involved by having the same person who wrote the novel pen the screenplay, Clowes does well in adapting his own work for a big screen outing; creating a faithful adaptation for the few die-hard fans who may be out there whilst reaching a new audience by way of transforming words to moving picture with an idealistic cast lending their talents to make it happen.
Dern’s Pippi the perfect companion to Harrelson’s Wilson, both crazy but clearly meant for each other and young newcomer Amara a fine addition as their biological daughter trying her best to cope with a semi-traumatic change of life scenario, Judy Greer is also appreciated when thrown in the mix as a dog-sitter who later befriends our lovable schmuck.
Highlighting why it’s important to live in the moment and packing more flavour than you might expect, Wilson is the prime example of unconventional story-telling at its best. Undoubtedly unique, imaginative and featuring a perfectly cast Woody Harrelson, this portrait of an adorable misfit trying his best to be a family man is a whole lot of fun.
He’s a people person.
