Directed by Adam Brooks, this romantic comedy's poster will certainly attract the attention of fans of Bridget Jones's Diary - that is, of course, the point. But Definitely, Maybe takes a slightly different form in storytelling, especially for romcoms, which makes it stand out from the rest.
Ryan Reynolds stars as Will Hayes, a father who is faced with the dilemma of explaining to his daughter, Maya (Abigail Breslin), why he and his wife are getting a divorce. It's only made harder when Maya learns about sex, which brings her to the question of how she was created. Will tells Maya about his mixed up relationships in the past. Three women used to be in Will's life, and the story becomes a game to Maya, who tries to guess which of the women is her mother. There's Emily (Elizabeth Banks), Will's college romance; April (Isla Fisher), a very fun-loving, random NYC girl; and Summer (Rachel Weisz), a mysterious journalist. It's a story within a story, with interludes where Maya expresses her fascination (or disapproval) of her father's past.
Will's story is intriguing but somewhat unbelievable. As Will leaves his college crush for the big bad city of NYC, he comes across two lovely women who fall head-over-heels in love with him. While Ryan Reynolds is an attractive man, it's highly unlikely that he would find two women along with his girlfriend who would be so engaged with him. This is no longer a love triangle, but a love... square? Either way, Will Hayes' personality doesn't seem likable enough to warrant three women who want to date him.
Yet even if Will's story seems fictional, there's still a redeeming quality about it because of the fact that as we hear the narrative, we are in the same position as little Maya; the plot becomes a mystery of sorts as we try to figure out who the mother is in the relationship. It's an interesting concept that gives a lot more weight to the romantic comedy, because it allows for more viewer participation rather than just sitting back and letting the events unfold. With Will telling the story, the audience is a willing observer, a fly on the wall, and it is difficult to foresee the ending. There's a bit of foreshadowing here and there, but otherwise the film does a great job of keeping the conclusion under wraps.
Ryan Reynolds plays his part fairly well, although he doesn't seem to be the father type. At points, he's more like an aged friend of Maya's rather than a father figure. A lot of his actions are very self-focused, which could be a reason for the divorce, but it does not explain his overly affectionate feelings towards Maya at the end of the film. However, Reynolds is successful in his portrayal as a political figure; he exudes a personality that is outspoken, knowledgable, driven, and full of leadership, qualities which make him a perfect candidate for work in politics. Sometimes, Will can come off as prickish, but it feels intentional, and although Reynolds is much better at boyish qualities, he pulls off this flaw with ease.
Abigail Breslin is the second standout here, coming off of her highly successful roll in Little Miss Sunshine. Here again she shines because of her bright demeanor and intense emotional reactions, showcasing her ability to provide needed comic relief in times of drama but also escalating the drama in the lulls. Her character is fairly mature for the age that she is portraying, which may be construed as a bit of a negative aspect because of the tendency for Breslin to flip-flop between confused child and all-knowing adult. Most of the time, though, Maya's interludes add a lot to the film, because they allow for the film to self-critique itself and joke about its own content.
Even though the main characters are detailed and engaging, two of the women that Will falls for are semi-irritating. Emily is seemingly easy-going and good-natured at first, but as we take the trip through Will's life, we find that it is no surprise that she becomes Maya's mother and is the wife that Will is divorcing. She's too fake and thoughtless, a woman with no real personality. The other dud here is Summer, whose emotions are too varied and extravagant. It's so hard to read how she's really feeling that one just stops trying, and her personality is quite eccentric.
These women, though, feel less like a flaw and more like an integral part of the plot. In reality, it seems the audience is not supposed to like them to make room for Will's love interest with April - a woman who is much more suited to Will than the other two mistresses. April is fun and, most importantly, interesting, something which Emily and Summer lack in large quantities. It is refreshing to find that, through it all, Will is reunited with April, the girl that he should have married in the first place. In this, the audience feels that they have made a discovery along with Will and Maya, playing a part in this happier ending.
Though Definitely, Maybe doesn't differ much from the current fodder of romantic comedies, the film has a certain aura about it that draws the viewer in more than other films of this nature. We are directly involved with the actions, and our expectations are always changing as Will switches between women. The film can get long at times, though, and Will's everchanging fascination with all three women, continuously being wooed by each love interest, can become tedious. But on the whole, Definitely, Maybe surprises because of its ability to tell not one but two interesting stories at once and intertwine them with slightly corny romance.
Oh, and Kevin Kline's in this, but his part is so meager and frustrating that it's not worth mentioning in great detail.
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1 COMMENTS:
Definitely, Maybe is a very much nice comedy Movie. In it a man falls into three woman's love. It is romantic comedy movie. I watched this movie by Download Definitely, Maybe Movie
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