Definitely, Maybe (B or 3/4 stars)
A 30-something yr. old political consultant, Will Hayes (Ryan Reynolds) tries to explain his impending divorce & past relationships to his 11 yr. old daughter, Maya (Abigail Breslin), in 'Definitely, Maybe', a serio-comedy written & directed by Albert Brooks. Hoping to prevent dad from signing the divorce papers, a nostalgic Maya wants him to tell her a bedtime story ... how he met, chose, & fell in love with her mom. Reluctantly, Will agrees to tell this story. But to confuse her and 'us', he changes the names of the 3 women who could potentially be her mother. This is a chick flick. But it's far more interesting & involving than your normal fare.
Little does Maya know that by having Will re-tell his past, he'd be recalling both fond and painful memories of his once idealistic youth. The bedtime story starts in 1992 when Will moves from Wisconsin to N.Y. to campaign for Bill Clinton. He's eager to build a career, but also sad to leave his dependable college sweetheart behind ... the first woman in the story, Emily (Elizabeth Banks). With time, Will meets & takes a liking to fellow Clinton co-worker, April (Isla Fisher). She doesn't believe in marriage, hasn't a clue what she wants to do with her life, but knows that Will is a great friend; she's the second potential mother in the story. Sometime later, Will meets a free-spirited journalist named Summer (Rachel Weisz). She has a shady past. She's having a fling with her sexagenarian thesis advisor (hysterical Kevin Kline). But Will is still very interested. Of these three, Maya (and us) must put the pieces together to find out who represents her mom.
While Will re-tells his story (sanitized for his 11 yr. old girl), 'we' bear witness to the incredible ups & downs that he's experienced. Not only are several hearts broken, but elements of deceit, depression, and unemployment also stem from these tenuous years. And the already wise Maya starts to understand that love is not as simple as a fairy tale. Love doesn't always conquer all. It helps to tell someone when they're letting an opportunity slip by. And divorce can sometimes be a real blessing. For purposes of this movie, it certainly is; as Will, Maya, & a certain third party realize that it's never too late to achieve that fabled 'happy ending'.
'Definitely, Maybe' tells quite the romantic mystery. It's not a mind-bender. But it's certainly as engaging as your standard carbon copy romantic comedy; or even those crude sex farces. Ryan Reynolds is very likeable as Will. And the fact that he's scared to look into his own future by harping on the past shows his vulnerability. He's always 'trying' to find himself; to be passionate about something. Derek Luke is fine as Will's best friend, but he's given little to do. Abigail Breslin nails the precocious pre-teen of today. Elizabeth Banks is stellar. Rachel Weisz finally gets a movie worthy of her talent. And Isla Fisher (whom I'd always thought lacked a 'wow' factor) really impressed me. I found her very appealing here; on several levels.
A wonderful aspect of these 3 fully-formed female characters is that they're all attractive, funny, endearing ... yet flawed, as well. This makes it very hard for Maya and 'us' to sympathize with one or the other; or to figure out who's the mom in question. The film's length may be a bit too long. It has its cloying and/or dull moments. But I really appreciate this movie's (mostly) successful attempts to infuse charm, depth, & even melancholy. And how can you hate a film that both exalts Jane Eyre AND takes jabs at Bill Clinton. It's not perfect, but 'Definitely, Maybe' can provide a rewarding experience for many.
Little does Maya know that by having Will re-tell his past, he'd be recalling both fond and painful memories of his once idealistic youth. The bedtime story starts in 1992 when Will moves from Wisconsin to N.Y. to campaign for Bill Clinton. He's eager to build a career, but also sad to leave his dependable college sweetheart behind ... the first woman in the story, Emily (Elizabeth Banks). With time, Will meets & takes a liking to fellow Clinton co-worker, April (Isla Fisher). She doesn't believe in marriage, hasn't a clue what she wants to do with her life, but knows that Will is a great friend; she's the second potential mother in the story. Sometime later, Will meets a free-spirited journalist named Summer (Rachel Weisz). She has a shady past. She's having a fling with her sexagenarian thesis advisor (hysterical Kevin Kline). But Will is still very interested. Of these three, Maya (and us) must put the pieces together to find out who represents her mom.
While Will re-tells his story (sanitized for his 11 yr. old girl), 'we' bear witness to the incredible ups & downs that he's experienced. Not only are several hearts broken, but elements of deceit, depression, and unemployment also stem from these tenuous years. And the already wise Maya starts to understand that love is not as simple as a fairy tale. Love doesn't always conquer all. It helps to tell someone when they're letting an opportunity slip by. And divorce can sometimes be a real blessing. For purposes of this movie, it certainly is; as Will, Maya, & a certain third party realize that it's never too late to achieve that fabled 'happy ending'.
'Definitely, Maybe' tells quite the romantic mystery. It's not a mind-bender. But it's certainly as engaging as your standard carbon copy romantic comedy; or even those crude sex farces. Ryan Reynolds is very likeable as Will. And the fact that he's scared to look into his own future by harping on the past shows his vulnerability. He's always 'trying' to find himself; to be passionate about something. Derek Luke is fine as Will's best friend, but he's given little to do. Abigail Breslin nails the precocious pre-teen of today. Elizabeth Banks is stellar. Rachel Weisz finally gets a movie worthy of her talent. And Isla Fisher (whom I'd always thought lacked a 'wow' factor) really impressed me. I found her very appealing here; on several levels.
A wonderful aspect of these 3 fully-formed female characters is that they're all attractive, funny, endearing ... yet flawed, as well. This makes it very hard for Maya and 'us' to sympathize with one or the other; or to figure out who's the mom in question. The film's length may be a bit too long. It has its cloying and/or dull moments. But I really appreciate this movie's (mostly) successful attempts to infuse charm, depth, & even melancholy. And how can you hate a film that both exalts Jane Eyre AND takes jabs at Bill Clinton. It's not perfect, but 'Definitely, Maybe' can provide a rewarding experience for many.