Story
Wonder Wheel is the name of a fun fair on Coney Island in New York City in the 1950s. Mickey (Justin Timberlake) is a lifeguard on the island. He tells the sad story of Humpty (Jim Belushi), the manager of the carousel, and his tragic wife, Ginny (Kate Winslet). Ginny is a former actress who had great hopes for her future. But she had an affair with her co-star, and her husband left her. Left on her own to bring up her son, Richie (Jack Gore), Ginny had a nervous breakdown, which ended her acting career. She got work as a waitress in a café on Coney Island, where she met Humpty. She feels Humpty has saved her from being a lonely single mother.
Humpty, however, is a former alcoholic, who occasionally lapses back into drinking with violent results. Richie doesn’t know who his real father is and hates Humpty, who beats him. Consequently, Richie is a pyromaniac, constantly getting into trouble for lighting fires. Ginny secretly drinks to cope. She bumps into Mickey one day while walking along the beach. Mickey identifies her as a vulnerable woman and starts an affair with her. Ginny falls madly in love with Mickey and sees him as the way out of her predicament.
Then Carolina (Juno Temple), Humpty’s beautiful young daughter, turns up. Humpty and Carolina haven’t spoken for over five years because she married a gangster against Humpty’s wishes. She has now realised her mistake but is a marked woman in the gangster world. When Mickey meets Carolina, he instantly falls in love with her and Ginny is very jealous. The growing attraction between Mickey and Carolina causes Ginny to behave in increasingly bizarre and irrational ways and ultimately leads to her downfall.
Themes
Adultery and infidelity; mental health issues and threatened suicide; alcoholism; gangsters
Violence
Wonder Wheel has some violence. For example:
Sexual references
Wonder Wheel has some sexual references, For example:
- Mickey says that Ginny’s body language tells him she is ‘vulnerable and desperate’.
- Mickey tells Ginny it’s not the first time he’s had sex with a married woman.
- Ginny talks about how she ended up in bed with another actor, although she loved her husband.
- Ginny tells Mickey she’ll ‘go off’ anywhere he wants her to.
- Carolina (who doesn’t know about the affair) tells Ginny that Mickey was very charming and flirtatious with her.
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
Wonder Wheel shows some use of substances. For example:
- Humpty is an alcoholic who sometimes goes back to drinking, although Ginny does her best to stop him. When he drinks he becomes violent.
- Ginny also drinks surreptitiously and keeps a bottle of whisky hidden in the cupboard. Richie sees her drink three glasses of whisky in a row.
- Many characters drink and smoke.
Nudity and sexual activity
Wonder Wheel shows some partial nudity and sexual activity. For example:
- Both Ginny and Carolina wear very revealing dresses.
- Humpty undresses down to his underwear, and Ginny wears a transparent negligee in bed.
- Ginny is seen in her underwear, putting on her stockings. Mickey watches her. He is undressed but covered by a sheet from the waist down.
- Mickey and Ginny have sex under the boardwalk, fully clothed. They also have sex on the beach and at Mickey’s home, although not much is shown.
- Mickey and Ginny kiss passionately several times.
Product placement
The following products are displayed or used in Wonder Wheel: Coca Cola and Pepsi
Coarse language
Wonder Wheel has some coarse language, profanity and name-calling.
Ideas to discuss with your children
Wonder Wheel has some coarse language, profanity and name-calling.