I saw this at about the same time I saw the 2008 political thriller VANTAGE POINT and am surprised at the similarities. They both have gimmicks in how they structure their story and they both deal with politics. But what's even more surprising is that the romantic comedy DEFINITELY, MAYBE executes both of those elements better than the other movie. Romantic comedies are usually slavish to conventions, and thrillers are supposed to throw new twists at us each time out. While DEFINITELY, MAYBE isn't perfect, it respects its audience enough to know what its talking about when not in romance mode.
Will Hayes (Ryan Reynolds, BLADE TRINITY) is getting divorced. His young daughter Maya (Abigail Breslin, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE) wants to know how her father and mother met, and why they're splitting, so Will begins to tell her his dating-life story since college — only changing the names to protect the innocent (and add a bit of mystery to who is Maya's mom). The first suspect is Emily (Elizabeth Banks, W.), Will's hometown sweetheart. Maya isn't convinced it's her because in romances the guy never stays with the original girl. Next is April (Isla Fisher, THE LOOKOUT), a vivacious woman who isn't big on commitment, which often casts Will in the role of boy friend not boyfriend. The third and final suspect is journalist Summer (Rachel Weisz, THE CONSTANT GARDENER), who turns out to have a lot in common with Will.
Between all the romantic elements, Will tells the story of the rise of his political career from an intern to speechwriter. Jobs in romantic comedies usually are window dressing, but writer/director Adam Brooks cares enough to make Will's career real, which makes him more interesting. The political material also adds a nice historical look at the political climate of the Clinton years. Now I will say that the politics and romance stories have little to do with each other thematically, but they are both well told and never get in the way of each other. It's like getting two movies in one.
Reynolds is known as a funny guy, but in this role, he shows that he's more than a comedian. His boyish good looks make him perfect for meatier romantic comedy leads. Banks dials down this character from her more flashy work in films like 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN. Fisher is given a chance to play something other than a dimwit, and fits perfectly into this free-spirit role. While its not a criticism of her acting, Weisz is a bit distracting, because our expectations of her are higher than the material. She's an Oscar-winning actress, not just the third female lead in a rom-com. That said she is the right choice for an up-and-coming political journalist. So when the film is in its political world, she fits perfectly, and when it's in rom-com land, she feels miscast. This only highlights the disconnect between the two plot lines.
Going into the film, I thought the gimmick of Maya trying to figure out who her mother is would be contrived. Now having seen the film, I can say it is contrived, but it doesn't matter. What it provides is another second, unexpected, love story to emerge, the one between a father and his daughter. With its smart attention to all its characters and plot elements, DEFINITELY, MAYBE is certainly a cut above the average romantic comedy.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
