rating:
(out of
4 stars)United Kingdom, United States, France; 2008
Directed by Adam Brooks; produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner; written by Adam Brooks
Starring Ryan Reynolds, Elizabeth Banks, Isla Fisher, Rachel Weisz, Abigail Breslin, Kevin Kline, Derek Luke
This romantic comedy follows a different path than most, showing not one but three possible love interests for leading man Ryan Reynolds. About to be divorced, Reynolds tells daughter Abigail Breslin ('Little Miss Sunshine') the story of how he met her mother, but changes all the names so it is for her and audience to guess which woman is the mom. The flashback that follows is entertaining and handled with more intelligence one might expect. The clichés actually belong in this occasionally funny film, with a story that keeps you guessing for a while.
Starting the flashback in 1992, Reynolds is Will Hayes, a man with a vision and a dream, both dealing with future Presidents of the United States. The vision is Bill Clinton, the dream is Will Hayes himself. Will leaves college girlfriend Emily (Elizabeth Banks), the first possible mother, to go to New York, joining Clinton's campaign. Soon he befriends copy girl April Hoffman (Isla Fisher), the second possibility. He also meets Emily's high school friend Summer (Rachel Weisz), returning her diary he had to give from Emily. She of course is girl number three, although at the moment he meets her she is dating writer Hampton Roth (Kevin Kline).
Will of course dates all these girl, in one way or another, leaving his daughter Maya to guess the outcome when we occasionally return to the present. Both the episodes between Will and his daughter, as all the single stories with his women are at least entertaining: funny and somewhat original. The premise of every different story might feel clichéd, but none of them really goes where you would expect them to go. Performances from Reynolds and most women - Weisz, Fisher and Bresling are outstanding - work quite well. Near the end the audience likes all characters, but prefers one over the other when it comes to the romantic comedy parts.
'Definitely, Maybe' goes not without flaws, but they are easily forgiven. The film is different, such a strength here that I would recommend it over many other examples, starring much bigger stars. Stars, real stars, the thing a romantic comedy normally depends on too heavily, are missing here. Kevin Kline pays a visit and indeed is scene stealing every single time he enters, and Rachel Weisz could be called a star, but she is only a pawn in the bigger game. It depends on smart characters and interesting stories, fitting perfectly into one entertaining love mystery.