Definitely, Maybe - Movie Review

Definitely, Maybe (PG-13) 111 minutes B
The Ex Files
Starring Ryan Reynolds, Isla Fisher, Derek Luke, Abigail Breslin, Elizabeth Banks, Kevin Kline, and Rachel Weisz

Definitely, Maybe rolled into theaters just in time for Valentines Day with the hope of catching moviegoers still buzzing from chocolate and candy hearts… or in need of a reminder that their true love is still out there somewhere.

Will Hayes (Ryan Reynolds) is a 30-something, successful, Manhattan Ad writer in the midst of a divorce. His 10 year old daughter (from the marriage), Maya (Abigail Breslin), still hopes that her mom and dad can work things out, and is obsessed with knowing how they first met and fell in love.

Maya is a key character in the film, and the main ingredient to the plot. But she is also the films biggest flaw. Yet another overly precocious kid whose too big for her britches and too smart for her own good. Nevertheless she is the reason that Will recounts the misadventures of his young adult love life in this romantic-comedy-mystery.

We begin in 1992; Will leaves Wisconsin and his college sweetheart, Emily (Elizabeth Banks), to pursue his passion- politics. His plan is to work on Bill Clinton’s campaign for two months, return to Wisconsin afterward, and move in with Emily. Unfortunately that doesn’t work out and next up is April.

April is breathtaking from the start and I assumed that somehow these two would end up together despite both being in other relationships. They initially appear to be complete opposites but their differences result into a significant kinship… That is, until Summer Hartley (Rachel Weisz) comes into Will’s life.

I have to say that Summer was my favorite and the most alluring of his ex’s. I never realized how much Rachel Weisz looks like a young Brook Shields until this film. She is extraordinary and makes a man want to fall in love. Beautiful, seductive, sophisticated and smart, she appears to be the perfect match for Will... And maybe she is... (the rest you’ll have to see for yourself).

Ultimately the mystery is which of the three women, if any, he ends up with.

I was not crazy about the ending. Once again it was hollywoodized, but I suppose it made sense considering the circumstances. I probably shouldn’t admit it, but this movie did evoke a little emotion from yours truly… and that’s a little embarrassing only because it’s not really a tearjerker type film. I found myself caught up in the characters and trying to solve the film’s minor mystery.

This is not a masterpiece by any means, but it is a nice and entertaining romantic comedy, in a time when a lot mainstream romantic comedies suck!