Wilson (2017) - A Movie Review

Life happens in unexpected ways.

"Wilson" premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2017. Wilson is a lonely and vulgar man who likes to talk to anyone at any random moment. He reunites with his estranged wife and finds out a shocking secret. He meets his teenage daughter for the first time. 

My grandmother and I have a movie rule that if the movie doesn’t pass the thirty-minute test, we shut it off. Luckily, “Wilson” passed our expectations because this mean-spirited movie with crass humor became a heartwarming story about making life worth living. 

Woody Harrelson is an actor of his time. Usually, he plays good-natured characters, but all actors need to play against type at some point in their careers. He has a ball in this role. That’s what the director was drawn to with Harrelson. He made the character feel human. 

Wilson is a despicable person. He is obnoxious and criticizes anyone, even strangers. If you’re the only one on a bus, he’ll come over and gab your ear off. That made me laugh. Harrison dug deep into this character’s egotistical layers and brought out an emotional and human performance of change. We can’t spend our whole lives miserable. 

Laura Dern saved me from shutting off this film. Her character, Pippi, is exactly what this movie needed. Dern also plays against type from her roles where she is in control and pleasant. Even she spats foul language. Before you assume anything about someone, it’s important to get to know them first. Pippi has a dark past. 

No part is ever small. Several recognizable faces appear in roles that only last a minute. The key is: always make an impact no matter how small your part is. Credits also include Isabella Amara, Judy Greer, Cheryl Hines, Margo Martindale, David Warshofsky, and Brett Gelman. 

I have never seen Isabella Amara in any other films. She plays Claire, Wilson and Pippi’s daughter. I like how Amara played the role. She is abrasive, but that’s only to hide her vulnerability. The trio had great chemistry together. Every character is hiding something.

Craig Johnson directs “Wilson,” the same person who directed my favorite movie, “The Skeleton Twins.” He stepped in when the original director dropped out. For his third film as director, Johnson wanted to do something different. He decided to step away from the traditional format to make “Wilson.”

I didn’t know that “Wilson” was based on a graphic novel by Daniel Clowes. He never read the original graphic novel, but when Johnson read the script, he said that he was attached to the theme about lonely people navigating the world. 

He collaborated with Clowes during filmmaking, making sure that he had the right tone. He wanted audiences to feel like they could relate to Wilson. Everyone is a Wilson in some way, with hidden problems. 

The film has mean-spirited humor. It is funny in an uncomfortable way, occasionally touching and consistently anchored by Harrelson’s performance. The movie does not completely succeed in turning Wilson’s unpleasantness into emotional insight, and its final act feels more conventional than the character deserves. 

Under all those layers, the film still has a positive and lighthearted message. Mental health stories are important. However, you can’t tell movies in the same fashion. “Wilson” breaks the rules, is filled with crass humor, and yet it still has a message that we can change and make the best of our lives. 

If “Wilson” looks too mean-spirited, don’t ignore it. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I am glad I didn’t give up on it. Give the film a chance.