Metacritic reviews

The most accurate movie about campus life that I can remember.

A giddy delight, with Michael Douglas delivering what may be the most relaxed and inventive performance of his career, and Tobey Maguire and Robert Downey Jr. trailing not far behind.

A terrific movie about middle-age malaise and a comedy of unusual wit and drollness.

The casting of Michael Douglas against type as an over-the-hill novelist and writing professor is the sort of clever move that wins undeserved Oscars.

Droll mild amusement.

See Wonder Boys for the acting, particularly McDormand and Maguire, but use the goofy moments to get popcorn refills.

It's striking on several counts.

Quite pleasant.

Sweet, flaky, and more than a little aimless.

The sentimentality overtakes Wonder Boys when, in the last half hour, it tries to make nice with its characters and fashion a deep message from a trivial story.