| Alex in Wonderland | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Paul Mazursky |
| Written by | Paul Mazursky Larry Tucker |
| Produced by | Anthony Ray Larry Tucker |
| Starring | Donald Sutherland Ellen Burstyn |
| Cinematography | László Kovács |
| Edited by | Stuart H. Pappé |
| Music by | Tom O'Horgan |
Production companies | Coriander MGM |
| Distributed by | MGM |
Release date |
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Running time | 111 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Alex in Wonderland is a 1970 Americancomedy-drama film directed byPaul Mazursky, written with his partnerLarry Tucker, starringDonald Sutherland andEllen Burstyn. Sutherland plays Alex Morrison, a director agonizing over the choice of follow-up project after the success of his first feature film. The situation is similar to the one Mazursky found himself in following the success ofBob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969) and he casts himself in a role as a new-style Hollywood producer.[2] His daughter Meg Mazursky appears as Amy, one of Morrison's daughters. Noted teacher of improvisational theaterViola Spolin plays Morrison's mother. The film also featurescameo appearances byFederico Fellini andJeanne Moreau, and seems to be inspired by their work. In particular, Fellini's8½ (1963), about a film director who's artistically stuck, is referenced.[3] Moreau sings two songs on the soundtrack, "Le Vrai Scandale" (for which she wrote the words) and "Le Reve Est La."
Young director Alex Morrison feels compelled to follow his recent box-office hit with another blockbuster. While mulling over this problem, the director's mind wanders to his past, his present, and probable future.
The film received mixed reviews from critics.[4][5][6] Roger Ebert gave the film four stars, writing "the human story does work, remarkably well, and if the movie doesn't hold together we're not disposed to hold that against it."[7] Emanuel Levy was more critical, calling it "arty and pretentious, lacking real wit."[8] Tony Mastroianni of theCleveland Press gave it a similarly negative review.[9]
In a retrospective review written in 2011, Nathan Rabin ofThe A.V. Club found the movie to be "pleasant" and suggested that "Studios, audiences, and critics may have expected a major statement afterBob & Carol & Ted & Alice. Instead, Mazursky delivered a pleasant shrug of a movie, an affable afterthought."[2]Time Out described the movie as "intriguing, if deeply flawed."[10]