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Definitely, Maybe
Movie Stats & Links |
Starring: |
Isla Fisher,
Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz, Ryan Reynolds, Abigail
Breslin, Kevin Kline |
MPAA Rated: |
PG-13 |
Released By: |
Universal Pictures |
Web Site: |
definitelymaybemovie.com |
Kiddie Movie: |
Nope, most of the
story is about love and romance, so unless you want them
saying "penis" a lot, get a sitter. |
Date Movie: |
Umm, duh? |
Gratuitous Sex: |
Some kissing and
rolling around. |
Gratuitous
Violence: |
Nah. |
Action: |
Nah. |
Laughs: |
Quite a few. |
Memorable
Scene: |
I won't ruin it,
but it made me weepy. |
Memorable
Quote: |
Maya: "I can't
believe she rehearsed with Charlie!" |
Directed By: |
Adam Brooks |
Produced By: |
Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner |
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Definitely, Maybe
A Movie Review |
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I am such a puss. I’m sitting there watching "Definitely,
Maybe," and the touching scene is telegraphed and totally
obvious, yet there I was, getting a little weepy. Part of
the problem I have seeing movies is, for me, foreshadowing is usually second nature, and I try not
to let it influence my review, but damn, it almost sucks
worse when you know what’s coming, you’ve already prepared
for it in your head with "Oh yea, he’s gonna" do this, the
moment comes, and you get weepy anyway. Like I said, I’m
such a puss. Ugh!
I hereby turn in my guy-card.
Anywho, "Definitely, Maybe" shows us that kids can be
both inquisitive and wise, and no one is more inquisitive
and wise than ten-year-old Maya (Abigail Breslin),
especially after she was just given her first sex education
class. When Dad, Will (Ryan Reynolds), in the midst of a
divorce, picks her up from school after said class, little
does he know the questioning and scrutiny he is about to
come under, and it all relates to Maya wanting to know which
of Dad’s previous girlfriends is her mom (she did, remember,
just find out how babies are made) so for an evening bedroom
tale, Dad gets to explain to Maya his past loves, and maybe
help Maya understand why things didn’t work out between him
and her mom.
Starting back in 1992, fresh out of college, with his college
sweetheart, Emily (Elizabeth Banks), Dad explains how back
then he had aspirations, as a young Democrat, to become
President of the United States, and what better way then to
work on the campaign of a Governor from Arkansas named Bill
Clinton. To do so, though, Will must go to New York City,
eventually breaking up the two of them up (don’t worry,
that’s not really a spoiler), but this allowed him to find
two other women, namely Summer (Rachel Weisz) and April
(Isla Fisher). As the years go on we learn of Dad’s
escapades and friendships with all three, with Summer being
a journalist who always had a thing for her elder thesis
advisor, Hampton (a fantastic Kevin Kline), while April
becomes Will’s perpetual friend, although there is always
that tension of love when they are together.
So, as we flashback from Will’s stories about love to
Maya’s interpretation of the women, Emily thinks she has
figured out whether Summer, April, or Emily are her mother,
and we get to find out, too, only the movie doesn’t end
there because Maya, wanting Dad to be happy, knows she has a
little more work to do.
What makes "Definitely, Maybe" work are multitudes of
things. One was I thought Ryan Reynolds did a nice job at
playing Dad, as well seeing his aspirations for the world
rise and fall with the world of politics (it’s a great scene
when he throws his noodles at the TV as Bill Clinton is
awash in Monica-Gate) intertwined with his relationships.
You can also see his trouble in finding true love, and how,
being a dude, he fails to see love right in front of his
eyes. Now, as much as Ryan was good, it is really the women who
steal the show in this movie. Elizabeth Banks does a great
job as Will’s college girlfriend, I don’t think anyone
really wanted Summer to be Maya’s mom, especially towards
the end, with Rachel Weisz playing that part well, and Isla
Fisher is just adorable as April, the friend and never the
girlfriend. But, of course, the scene-stealer was constantly
Abigail Breslin who was both adorable and hilarious, and
used just enough to not overdo her adorableness and
hilariousness
Okay, dudes, if you don’t have a sensitive side and you
get pulled kicking and screaming to this movie, you do have
three good-looking ladies to ogle at while your honey is
touched by the romance of it all, but if sometimes you have
a soft side, I think this is a great movie for couples of
any age. Part of me, though, is sad, because it looks like
Ryan Reynolds is growing up which sadly means no "Van
Wilder: He’s a Professor Now."
It’s 4 ½ stars out of 5 for "Definitely, Maybe." Fine,
you can attribute some of that rating to my being a puss,
but there are a lot of cute laughs in the movie brought out
by everyone, and the addition of one of my favorite A3 songs
(and it's not even "Woke Up This Morning") didn't hurt,
either.
That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!!
L8R!!! |