Tthe performances are very strong.
Definitely, Maybe (2008)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:138
Fresh:99
Rotten:39
Average Rating:6.5/10
Consensus: With a clever script and charismatic leads, Definitely, Maybe is a refreshing entry into the romantic comedy genre.
Rated: 12A [See Full Rating] Rated PG-13 for sexual content, including some frank dialogue, language and smoking.
Runtime: 1 hr 52 mins
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release:08-02-2008
Synopsis: Ryan Reynolds and a bevy of excellent actresses star in this smart and touching romantic comedy about a little girl trying to understand her father's complicated history with women. Will Hayes... Ryan Reynolds and a bevy of excellent actresses star in this smart and touching romantic comedy about a little girl trying to understand her father's complicated history with women. Will Hayes (Reynolds) is in the midst of a divorce, and his 11-year-old daughter Maya (Abigail Breslin) wants to understand what went wrong with her parents' relationship. She begs her father to tell her the entire story of how he met her mother. Will begrudgingly agrees, but changes the names of everyone involved, leaving it up to Maya to decipher who in the story is her mother. Thus Will begins his tale, weaving a romantic and amusing maze of missed connections and bad timing with the likes of three beautiful women: Summer (Rachel Weisz), April (Isla Fisher), and Emily (Elizabeth Banks). Will bounces from relationship to relationship, misunderstandings and confusion thwarting him every step of the way. Who will he end up with? Which woman is ultimately right for him? The film keeps Maya and the viewer guessing right until the very end, with a bittersweet but ultimately triumphant surprise twist tying it all together. Reynolds has long outgrown his VAN WILDER days, and does an excellent job of holding his own with the talented Fisher, Weisz, and Banks. The film is certainly a stand-out from the current crop of romantic comedies, in that the women are intelligent, well-drawn characters, and the relationships are painted with a funny, but realistic eye. And blessedly, it doesn't end with the standard blowout wedding that has become the hallmark of such films. DEFINITELY, MAYBE is a smart and sexy take on the complexities of love, and still manages to be kid friendly, while sending a very positive, honest message to children of divorce. [More]
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Isla Fisher, Derek Luke, Abigail Breslin
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Isla Fisher, Derek Luke, Abigail Breslin, Rachel Weisz, Elizabeth Banks, Kevin Kline
Director: Adam Brooks
Director: Adam Brooks
Screenwriter: Adam Brooks
Producer: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner
Composer: Clint Mansell
Studio: Universal Pictures
Reviews for Definitely, Maybe
By trading in metaphor and parallel structure, makes a compelling allegorical statement about just how stuck in a rut we collectively feel our nation is.
Definitely, Maybe stumbles along the way to its destination just like its protagonist does, but the humor and heart compensate for the lack of sure footing that extends all the way to the uncertainty in the title.
A 'Who's Your Mama?' melodrama unfolding for the benefit of a suddenly-spousified 11 year-old.
If you're looking for a movie that isn't just the same old, same old, "Definitely, Maybe" is definitely the movie for you.
There's a refreshing adult quality in the film that kicks the film a notch above the rest of the romantic and comic fare currently available.
Nostalgic, warm, bittersweet, and thoroughly entertaining, 'Definitely Maybe' earns a place on my list of favorite contemporary romantic comedies.
The romantic comedy has become such a wasteland of physical humor, predictable plots, and nauseating manipulation that Definitely, Maybe is more remarkable for what it doesn't do.
Definitely, Maybe is an explosion of sweetness and hugs that might cause your stomach to churn if you don't like your sentimentality too strong.
Abigail Breslin's role is limited despite ads. Don't expect a family film, rather be ready for something more akin to the TV show Friends.
Everything feels derivative and nothing rings true -- it's The Way We Weren't.
The movie offers very real pleasures. Reynolds has terrific chemistry with everyone, and watching him romance three of Hollywood's more intelligent, beguiling comediennes is a pleasure.
Is this movie the best romantic comedy of the year? Maybe not. Do you walk out with a smile on your face? Definitely.
It certainly helps that he has a very good cast. Reynolds has chemistry with all three female co-stars, while Breslin and an uncredited Kevin Kline steal scenes.
Definitely, Maybe isn't terrible exactly, but it's bland, and in some ways that's worse. It's a romance posing as a detective story in which the solution is obvious and not worth the fuss.
This highly uneven comedy by writer-director Adam Brooks might be easier to take if it were less infatuated with its own cuteness.
Will's eventual fate is of academic interest only. Definitely, maybe? Who cares?
Latest News for Definitely, Maybe
August 15, 2008:
SpanishTeaching.co.uk: A bittersweet bedtime story about at least three babes who broke a guy's heart during his hard knocks, early adult years, in addition to, well, Bill Clinton. ![]()
More...
June 23, 2008:
RT on DVD: A Killer Sopranos Set; WALL-E Gets a Friend
You thought the Sex and the City DVD collection was expensive? Start saving up for the ultimate Sopranos box set, coming this fall. Also look for a DVD spin-off from last... More...
June 18, 2008:
A bittersweet bedtime story about at least three babes who broke a guy's heart during his hard knocks, early adult years, in addition to, well, Bill Clinton. ![]()
More...
March 06, 2008:
Joan Cusack, John Goodman to Hear Isla Fisher's Confessions
It hasn't even been a month since Isla Fisher dazzled Ryan Reynolds in the Valentine's dramedy Definitely, Maybe, but she's already at work on her next film -- and she's got... More...
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