The Great New Wonderful

Set in New York a year after 9/11, this Crash-like tale of crisscrossing destinies among five sets of characters tries way too hard to be clever and shrewd. Danny Leiner (Dude, Where’s My Car?, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle) directed a script by Sam Catlin, and though both have their moments, they’re rarely the same moments. At times the film seems as pushy as some of its characters, among them a prodding shrink (the always interesting Tony Shalhoub), a couple (Judy Greer and Tom McCarthy) with a spoiled ten-year-old son, and two East Asian security professionals (Sharat Saxena and Naseeruddin Shah). The other story lines involve a trendy pastry designer (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and an aging woman (Olympia Dukakis) who reconnects with an old friend. With Will Arnett, Jim Gaffigan, Stephen Colbert, and Edie Falco. In English and subtitled Hindi. R, 88 min. (JR)

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