'Wonderful' dwells on post-9/11

THE GREAT NEW WONDERFUL — ** 1/2 — Maggie Gyllenhaal, Judy Greer, Jim Gaffigan; rated R (profanity, sex, violence, vulgarity, racial epithets).

"The Great New Wonderful" probably won't be seen by as many moviegoers as "United 93" and "World Trade Center," which is a bit of a shame.

Like those films, this comedy-drama deals with 9/11-related issues — though it is set in New York City a year after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

While it's not always successful at doing so, this film does have its perceptive, thoughtful moments. And it features one of the best ensemble casts in recent memory.

The title refers to a new company run by an ambitious young pastry chef (Maggie Gyllenhaal, who was also in "World Trade Center"). And things are going well for her.

Not so for an accountant (Jim Gaffigan) who hasn't come to terms with his recent bouts of rage and depression, even when prodded by a therapist (an amusingly low-key Tony Shalhoub).

Meanwhile, a thirtysomething married couple (Judy Greer and Tom McCarthy) is trying to cope with a problem child, an unhappy older wife (Olympia Dukakis) is trying not to kill her husband, and two bodyguards (Naseerudin Shah and Sharat Saxena) are trying not to kill each other.

This is definitely an odd pairing of filmmakers — director Danny Leiner, who made the lowbrow comedies "Dude, Where's My Car?" and "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle," and playwright/screenwriter Sam Catlin. Perhaps that explains why the film is arguably at its best in the lighter moments, as with the banter between Gaffigan and Shalhoub. Comic actors Will Arnett and Stephen Colbert also show up in brief supporting roles.

But Gyllenhaal does work wonders with a rather self-involved character, and both Greer and Dukakis are heartbreaking. Veteran actress Dukakis especially deserves more screen time than she gets.

"The Great New Wonderful" is rated R for strong sexual language (including profanity and slang terms), simulated sex, some brief violence (a couple of scuffles, as well as some overheard, implied violence), and use of racial epithets and ethnic slurs. Running time: 87 minutes.

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