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Only ‘Maybe’ see Reynolds movie

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Also by Tony Lewis:

Despite original story, 'Be Kind Rewind' unwinds (February 28, 2008)
No ad'Vantage' with talented cast (February 25, 2008)
Only 'Maybe' see Reynolds movie (February 22, 2008)
U2 takes film to next dimension (February 22, 2008)
'Jumper' leaps, falls too short (February 18, 2008)

by Tony Lewis

Friday, February 22, 2008

The film “Definitely, Maybe” can best be described as a rollercoaster car traveling both above and below the line of a passable romantic comedy. At times, the movie soars above this standard and succeeds in breathing fresh air into a genre that has struggled in recent years. At other times, however, it sinks well below the line set for humor in a romantic comedy, barely passing itself off as an annoying game of Guess Who?

Despite the film’s shortcomings, director Adam Brooks succeeds in piecing together a fresh, creative story that, for the most part, avoids common romantic comedy plot threads.

The story revolves around a father Will Hayes (Ryan Reynolds, “Smokin’ Aces”), who is currently going through a divorce, and his daughter Maya (Abigail Breslin, “Little Miss Sunshine”). After partaking in a sex-ed class in school, Maya decides she wants to hear her dad’s romantic history. What results is a romantic mystery game in which Maya attempts to guess which woman her mother is among the three lovers her father tells her about: the college sweetheart Emily (Elizabeth Banks, “The 40-Year-Old Virgin”), the free-spirited best friend April (Isla Fisher, “Wedding Crashers”) or the aspiring journalist Summer (Rachel Weisz, “The Constant Gardener”).

One way this story remains fresh is with its inclusion of political issues, a territory most romantic comedies generally fear entering. But this film effectively incorporates Will’s career as a political advisor in a lighthearted way that not only adds creative substance to the story but also humor, as we watch Will’s life rise and fall alongside the turbulent Clinton campaign and presidency.

Unfortunately, some of this creativity becomes lost throughout the film. Although the premise of a romantic mystery tale is an imaginative idea, it is in the telling of the story that some of this imagination becomes overwhelmed by other plot points. As a result, Brooks’ fresh film occasionally begins to rot.

Where “Definitely, Maybe” suffers most is in its inability to create the sense of any substantial relationship between Will and his three love interests. The film spends so much time focusing on how Will moves on from one failed relationship to the next that the writer seems unsure of what to do once Will is actually in a relationship. The lack of any real connection between Will and his lovers causes the relationships to seem slightly forced and therefore unbelievable, and it’s as if Will doesn’t even know the women he is dating, despite the fact that he spent four years in college with one and another is his best friend. Consequently, when situations such as break-ups occur, it is difficult to take emotions like anger and sadness seriously because there seemed to be no real connection between the characters to begin with.

Despite flaws in the story, Reynolds still manages to reveal that he has matured a lot since his juvenile role in 2002’s “Van Wilder.” His dead-on performance as a single dad lost in the ways of love is both convincing and enjoyable. With his boyish charm and witty mannerisms, he commands the screen and keeps the film entertaining through the points where the plot threads begin to fray.

However, Reynolds is at his best when he shares the screen with Breslin. The loving father-daughter relationship between the two is both energetic and easily relatable. As a result, these scenes are hands down the highlight of the film.

But this chemistry is just as much a result of Reynolds’ performance as it is Breslin’s. Proving that last year’s Oscar nomination was no fluke, Breslin is astounding in her role as Will’s conscience in the film. Her presence on the screen, although limited, is refreshing, and her shining personality is crucial to keeping the film humorous and enticing. Resultantly, Breslin’s performance rises well above those of her fellow, more experienced actresses.

Although Banks, Fisher and Weisz are all talented actresses, they unfortunately fail to incorporate their unique personalities into their roles. Their characters are hollow, and they fail to go beyond what is expected in order to create a standout performance. In reality, any other actress could have walked on set and played one of the three roles to the same effect.

In the end, “Definitely, Maybe” is a film worth seeing for the captivating performances of Reynolds and Breslin, as well as the imaginative premise of Brooks’ effort.

Even though the film occasionally falls flat in terms of romantic comedy, it still lends a unique twist to an otherwise rigid genre.

2 1/2 stars out of 5

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