“Wonderland” is all about a porno star, his
uncontrollable drug use and his violent transgressions, but not at
all about his industry. Well, at least it’s not directly
about his industry. If you’re able to peel back the
film’s seedy and gory skin, then you’re probably able
to see clearly the great irony of “Wonderland.”
It’s very similar to an adult film itself. The sole
motivation and impetus throughout is to titillate and attempt to
make great tawdry and distasteful pulp.

The story is told in retrospect, primarily through the eyes of
David Lind (Dylan McDermott), a vagrant drug dealer. Along with
“Johnny Wadd” Holmes (Val Kilmer), the infamous porn
king, and his business partner Ron (Josh Lucas, “Sweet Home
Alabama”), Lind violently robs and beats local drug lord
Eddie Nash (Eric Bogosian) for his stash of both money and
coke.

The hit is successful, but as it is done with less than perfect
precision, information leaks. Nash vows revenge, and he gets it on
a murderous attack against the crew that robbed him. Holmes
survives and escapes, and Lind lives to retell the story, but their
accounts conflict and leave the air clouded with doubt as to what
really happened.

The doubtful ending is especially unsuitable for this movie,
most likely because the plot is so uninteresting and devoid of
worth. The story itself is pure, tabloid-grade trash, and the
drug-related motifs are hackneyed and, at this point, deserving of
a break.

“Wonderland” is technically a well-done film, and
the editing and cinematography are the most remarkable aspects of
the movie; but the romanticized look into the drug underworld is
hardly enough to satisfy.

Great movies about decadence always have some significant
emotional and personal undertones. They cannot just survive on
atmosphere, visuals and technical prowess. “Wonderland”
tries to sustain itself on these merits alone, and it’s
completely uninteresting. The characters are not relatable or
sympathetic and the dialogue becomes cliché quickly. Even
the acidic, rock-based soundtrack and the visually poetic ending
scene of harvested farmland with Gordon Lightfoot playing softly in
the background are not enough to uphold this inane story.

Some even remotely significant or worthwhile underpinnings could
make “Wonderland” a pretty decent film. Too bad the
makers opted for nothing more than a stylishly beefed-up attempt at
sleaze and tabloid pulp.

Rating: 1.5 stars.