Wilby Wonderful (2004)

I'm not ashamed to admit the only reason I turned to Wilby Wonderful was Ellen Page. Knowing everything about how a small community works, there are few surprises left for me in this movie, but there's no doubt Daniel MacIvor also knows a lot about the life in small communities as he's scripted and directed a fine story around it. Sadly it's a little to jammed with too much happening too fast, as life has a way of dragging these events out across weeks or even months. MacIvor has jammed it into 24 hours, and while that might make it more interesting it also makes it less of a mirror on the community he tries to reflect.

It's still enjoyable, maybe even educating for those not familiar with life on small places, the gossip, the small minded phobias and all that the rest. It was also almost enjoyable to watch Page do a close to normal character for once, as her earlier teenager ones as exampled in Hard Candy or Whip It are anything but normal. Whether you're a Brent Fisher or a Duck MacDonald, you'll approve of how the story reflects on small communities and you might also find some entertainment in comparing the characters to those around you. Just don't expect to be blown away by the story, because there's very little original about it.