'Definitely, Maybe' certainly, probably a success
By Lindsay Rice, Staff Writer
February 27, 2008 | 1:19 p.m.
The unconventional romantic comedy “Definitely, Maybe” provides viewers with a unique flashback structure and the ideal mixture of poignancy and laughter.
Adam Brooks directs a talented cast, including funny man Ryan Reynolds and Abigail Breslin (“Little Miss Sunshine”). Reynolds plays Will Hayes, a lost young man working at an advertising firm while bringing up his inquisitive daughter, Maya Hayes (Breslin). Kevin Kline has a small but significant role as Hampton Roth, a renowned published author that inspires Reynolds’ character.
In the film, Reynolds is separated and his impending divorce from an unknown woman, as well as the elementary school’s implementation of a sexual education class, triggers his daughter’s curiosity. After much pleading, Reynolds agrees to tell her the story about her mother and the events surrounding the majority of their relationship, but only under certain conditions. He changes the names of the women and therefore throughout the story his daughter (and the audience) is attempting to guess which woman in the story is her actual mother.
The film begins in the present, but as Reynolds recounts his past loves and losses to his daughter, it flashes back to the mid-1990s. During this time, Reynolds is working on the Clinton campaign in New York City while simultaneously falling in and out of love with three different women. Reynolds’ college sweetheart, Emily (Elizabeth Banks), is left behind for New York but makes multiple reappearances throughout the film.
When delivering a package for Emily, Reynolds meets Summer (Rachel Weisz), a sophisticated journalist whose work gets in the way of love. He then meets April (Isla Fisher), an independent copy girl working for the Clinton committee and a good friend for the better part of the movie.
Reynolds manages to bring his sarcastic yet charming sense of humor to the role, despite its serious nature. He succeeds at the part of a dad, as he and Breslin pull off an endearing portrayal of a modern single guy raising a spunky daughter. However, their relationship is not the focal point of the film. The relationships of Reynolds and their respective ups and downs dominate the plotline.
Reynolds’ over-eagerness to marry and find love makes his character come off as a hopeless romantic, but in a slightly unrealistic sense. Each woman also adds a different dynamic to the story. It's difficult not to be continually guessing who the real mother might be.
At times the movie seems to lack movement and becomes too tediously involved in one relationship at a time. This leaves the viewer with a few sporadic moments of boredom and perhaps a longing for more developed subplots. However, the mysterious aspect of the film paired with the switching back and forth from present to past does manage to hold interest.
The film’s more serious facets manage to draw emotion as well as compassion for the father-daughter duo without seeming melodramatic. Its political and literary undertones succeed in establishing an unexpected depth to the film, while the light-hearted moments add comedic and emotional appeal. The greater part of the movie was an engaging and refreshing twist on love and its absence.
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“Definitely, Maybe”
Speakeasy Rating: B
Running Time: 112 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for language and sexual content
Genre: Romantic Comedy/Drama