Available at Amazon for $19.99
If you’re a dude like me, then you just LOVE chick flicks. The cute meetings. The cute plot contrivances. The cute banter. The lead guy character inevitably falling to ruin without a good woman at his side. The soul songs from a distant decade blasting over the soundtrack. Ahhhhh … just thinking about it makes me wish every film was just like that.
Pssst … I’m being sarcastic.
DEFINITELY, MAYBE stars RYAN REYNOLDS as a washed-up political speech writer saddled with an impending divorce and a cute-as-a-button daughter played by ABIGAIL BRESLIN. One night she asks Daddy to tell her how he met her mother. So he starts to tell her how he fell in and out of love with three women, one of whom ends up being the little girl’s mother … but he disguises the names of the three women. Therefore, the film, told in flashbacks, becomes a romantic mystery as well as a romantic comedy.
Reynolds is terrific as the father, despite being asked to play quip machine by the script written by director ADAM BROOKS. I generally hate these types, who always cough up the perfect quote every time in every situation – think Chandler from FRIENDS - but Reynolds pulls it off with some excellent timing and a general geniality. It also helps that Reynolds get to play his character off of three strong female performances.
ELIZABETH BANKS is excellent in a smaller role as the first girlfriend, beautiful but unsure of herself. This is followed by a commanding performance from RACHAEL WEISZ as a self-sustaining opportunist with a capable sensuality, who shines despite being given short thrift in the script. But the most charming performance comes from ISLA FISHER, her soulful eyes and radiant enthusiasm lighting up her scenes with Reynolds, with whom she has easy chemistry. It is a credit to all of the actors that they manages to make much of the script sing despite its soap opera leanings.
Director Brooks keeps the proceedings light and airy, despite the inclusion of political intrigue and unrest in the backstory. He is helped by a wonderful visual palette composed by cinematographer FLORIAN BALLHAUS, who captures the rich and palpable textures of downtown New York.
While the story pretty much ends up where you might expect, there are several moments of intrigue when expectations are turned ever-so-slightly on their head. None of it is remotely believable, but the mystery of who Reynolds finally wins over is an interesting and enjoyable ride. Also admirable is the way Brooks avoids demonizing certain women in favor of the “heroine” in the story; it would have been so easy to make one or more of the women meaner or more selfish in order to mold audience sympathies, but Brooks refuses to do that. Again, the excellent cast sells much of this implausible material.
While I am generally not a fan of romantic comedies – and especially not chick flicks – this one takes a different approach and infuses it with generous warmth from an enjoyable cast. If you’re considering a romantic comedy in your future, say DEFINITELY to this one.
EXTRAS
Not much extra in this package.
CREATING A ROMANCE - The subtitle for this featurette is “brought to you by Volkswagen.” Way to ruin any good will that this film generated … can a manufactured rom/com feel any more synthetic after THAT?!?!? Anyway, this is just a puff piece masquerading as a look at the mechanics of romantic storytelling. Some nice thoughts from the cast, though.
THE CHANGING TIMES OF DEFINITELY, MAYBE – This featurette I liked much more. The film takes place in flashback through the nineties, and this feature looks at how the art and wardrobe departments tries to capture the look and feel of the decade. I found it particularly interesting how they tried to dress New York up and make it feel pre-9/11 again.
OVERALL
The film is one of the better romantic comedies I have seen in a while; not overly sappy, not overly cute. If you like movies like this – or you’re a boyfriend/husband looking for something you can stomach with your significant other – then I suggest you pick it up.
