Wednesday, February 27, 2008
On the lead up to Valentine's Day, I went to see "Definitely, Maybe".
Romantic comedies are easy.
1. Boy meets Girl.
2. Girl hates Boy.
3. Boy pursues Girl.
4. Girl hates Boy even more.
5. Boy gives up chasing Girl and meets New Girl.
6. Girl realises that she loves Boy.
7. Boy and Girl are unhappy.
8. New Girl leaves Boy for Boy's Best Friend/Brother/Father.
9. Boy and Girl kiss.
10. Roll credits and retire to Beverly Hills with up and coming starlet.
I could do that!
"Definitely, Maybe" does not really follow the bog standard romantic comedy template (which is good!), mainly because it is constructed as a mystery.
Soon to be divorced, mid 30's, single father Ryan Reynolds tells his 11 year old daughter the story of the three main romantic relationships of his life. One of these women will turn out to be his daughter's absent mother. Who will it be?
1. Nice, hometown girl Elizabeth Banks.
2. Kooky, wild child Isla Fisher.
3. Ambitious journalist Rachel Weisz.
Place your bets now! (I got it wrong, by the way. We'll skip past that, if I may.)
Despite myself I rather liked "Definitely, Maybe". Nice unsentimental performances by the whole cast and a good script that delved into off-centre subjects for a romantic comedy, such as hero worship and what can happen when your heroes let you down. "Definitely, Maybe" is also quite funny, but with a dark centre. I thought Ryan Reynolds, who is onscreen throughout, was really good. With this film and "The Nines" I am increasingly impressed with him. Really I am.
If I had to make one criticism it would be that "Definitely, Maybe" is a little bit too long. If only 10 minutes had been shaved off the running time, the ending would have been completely different, poetic, melancholy and more true.
Oh, well... Maybe the producers didn't want that? Maybe the producers wanted the traditional romantic comedy happy ending, after all?
Doesn't everybody.
Romantic comedies are easy.
1. Boy meets Girl.
2. Girl hates Boy.
3. Boy pursues Girl.
4. Girl hates Boy even more.
5. Boy gives up chasing Girl and meets New Girl.
6. Girl realises that she loves Boy.
7. Boy and Girl are unhappy.
8. New Girl leaves Boy for Boy's Best Friend/Brother/Father.
9. Boy and Girl kiss.
10. Roll credits and retire to Beverly Hills with up and coming starlet.
I could do that!
"Definitely, Maybe" does not really follow the bog standard romantic comedy template (which is good!), mainly because it is constructed as a mystery.
Soon to be divorced, mid 30's, single father Ryan Reynolds tells his 11 year old daughter the story of the three main romantic relationships of his life. One of these women will turn out to be his daughter's absent mother. Who will it be?
1. Nice, hometown girl Elizabeth Banks.
2. Kooky, wild child Isla Fisher.
3. Ambitious journalist Rachel Weisz.
Place your bets now! (I got it wrong, by the way. We'll skip past that, if I may.)
Despite myself I rather liked "Definitely, Maybe". Nice unsentimental performances by the whole cast and a good script that delved into off-centre subjects for a romantic comedy, such as hero worship and what can happen when your heroes let you down. "Definitely, Maybe" is also quite funny, but with a dark centre. I thought Ryan Reynolds, who is onscreen throughout, was really good. With this film and "The Nines" I am increasingly impressed with him. Really I am.
If I had to make one criticism it would be that "Definitely, Maybe" is a little bit too long. If only 10 minutes had been shaved off the running time, the ending would have been completely different, poetic, melancholy and more true.
Oh, well... Maybe the producers didn't want that? Maybe the producers wanted the traditional romantic comedy happy ending, after all?
Doesn't everybody.
Labels: Movies
# posted by Pynchon @ 4:11 pm 
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