Definitely, Maybe (2008)

Director:

Adam Brooks

Writer (WGA):

Adam Brooks (written by)

Release Date:

14 February 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Mystery | Romance

Tagline:

Three relationships. Three disasters. One last chance.

Plot:

A political consultant tries to explain his impending divorce and past relationships to his 11-year-old daughter.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Divorce | Politics | Sex | Interracial Relationship

Awards:

1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Wed. Nov. 25	7:00 PM	HBO
Sun. Nov. 29	11:00 AM	HBO

Cast

Ryan Reynolds	...	Will Hayes
An Nguyen	...	Ad Exec
Matthew Mason	...	Headphone Guy
Rick Derby	...	Visitor from Planet Ordon (as Ricky Jay Derby)
Sakina Jaffrey	...	School Mom
Bob Wiltfong	...	School Dad
Ryder Chasin	...	Boy with Book
Fiona Lane	...	Angry Girl
Dana Eskelson	...	Angry Girl's Mom
Blake Benitez	...	School Kid #1
Paulina Gerzon	...	School Kid #2
Victoria Goldsmith	...	School Kid #3
Ashtyn Greenstein	...	School Kid #4
Ashley Greiner	...	School Kid #5
Dylan Hartigan	...	School Kid #6
Paul Mott	...	School Kid #7
Alexander Pickett	...	School Kid #8
Marquis Rodriguez	...	School Kid #9
Ryann Shane	...	School Kid #10
Anabel Sosa	...	School Kid #11
Geraldine Bartlett	...	School Parent #1
James Biberi	...	School Parent #2
Mercedes Herrero	...	School Parent #3
Sarah Hudnut	...	School Parent #4
Abigail Breslin	...	Maya Hayes
Xaiex Arriaga	...	Luis the Doorman
Elizabeth Banks	...	Emily
Keith Patterson	...	Madison Party Friend
Daniel Eric Gold	...	Charlie
Adam Ferrara	...	Gareth
Derek Luke	...	Russell T. McCormack
Liane Balaban	...	Kelly
Annie Parisse	...	Anne
Nestor Serrano	...	Arthur Robredo
Kevin Corrigan	...	Simon
Jaime Tirelli	...	Rafael
Isla Fisher	...	April Hoffman
Kevin Kline	...	Hampton Roth
Rachel Weisz	...	Summer Hartley
Melisa McGregor	...	Bartender
Gerard Bianco	...	High School Volunteer #1
Melissa Rocco	...	High School Volunteer #2
Stephen Richardson	...	Pollster
Josh Caras	...	1994 Intern (as Joshua Caras)
Orlagh Cassidy	...	Nurse
Max Pomeranc	...	Robredo Campaign Worker
Robert Klein	...	Himself
Matt Flanders	...	Ring Salesman
Caryn Osofsky	...	Café Gitane Night Waitress
Emily Wickersham	...	1998 Intern
Adam Brooks	...	Bookstore Owner #1
Kerri Kwinter	...	Bookstore Owner #2
Alexie Gilmore	...	Olivia
Marc Bonan	...	Kevin
Amy Safrankiova	...	Café Gitane Day Waitress
Dale Leigh	...	Bill Clinton
Lauren Courtney Norman	...	Cocktail Server (as Lauren Norman)
Leif Riddell	...	Cab Driver
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tom Brokaw	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
George W. Bush	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Casey Cipriani	...	Rally Attendee (uncredited)
Bill Clinton	...	Himself (uncredited) (archive footage)
Alex Emanuel	...	Clinton campaign worker (uncredited)
Meissa Hampton	...	Student (uncredited)
Hristo Hristov	...	Orderly (uncredited)
Jaime Lee Kirchner	...	Samantha (uncredited)
Dawn Ressy	...	Political Supporter (uncredited)
Steven Weisz	...	Campaign Worker (uncredited)

Directed by
Adam Brooks

Writing credits (WGA)
Adam Brooks		(written by)

Produced by
Tim Bevan	....	producer
Liza Chasin	....	executive producer
Bobby Cohen	....	executive producer
Eric Fellner	....	producer
Evan Hayes	....	development executive: Working Title
Kerry Orent	....	co-executive producer

Original Music by
Clint Mansell

Cinematography by
Florian Ballhaus		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Peter Teschner

Casting by
Ali Farrell
Laura Rosenthal

Production Design by
Stephanie Carroll

Art Direction by
Peter Rogness

Set Decoration by
Ellen Christiansen

Costume Design by
Gary Jones

Makeup Department
Francesca Buccellato	....	key makeup artist
Mandy Lyons	....	personal hair stylist: Rachel Weisz
Nuria Sitja	....	personal makeup artist: Rachel Weisz
Kerrie Smith	....	department head hair stylist

Production Management
Christopher Goode	....	unit production manager
Samara Levenstein	....	post-production supervisor
Igor Srubshchik	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Timothy Bird	....	first assistant director
Joan G. Bostwick	....	second assistant director
Christopher Goode	....	second unit director
Matthew Mason	....	second assistant director: reshoots
Matthew Mason	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Jill Alexander	....	property master
JoAnn Atwood	....	on-set dresser
Abariss Culjak	....	props assistant
Michael Curry Jr.	....	construction foreman
Michael Cycan	....	carpenter
Emily Damico	....	assets manager
Phil Devonshire	....	shop electric
Steven T. Duke	....	set dresser
Danielle Giovanniello	....	props
Eric Green	....	art department production assistant
Michael Herlihy	....	construction coordinator
Deborah Jensen	....	assistant art director
Janet Kalas	....	charge scenic
Laurel Kolsby	....	additional graphic designer: props
Jess Levy	....	art department assistant
Lou Lotto	....	construction production assistant
Hudson Meredith	....	set decoration assistant
Vanessa Merrill	....	art department coordinator
Timothy Metzger	....	lead man
Nick Paley	....	art department research
Mark Pollard	....	graphic artist
Patrick Sarni	....	art department clearances
Francesco Sciarrone	....	scenic
Bryan Tonkin	....	key construction grip
JoAnn Vara	....	assistant set decorator
Rachael Weinzimer	....	assistant property master

Sound Department
Michael Barosky	....	sound mixer
Brian Bowles	....	adr supervisor
Brian Bowles	....	dialogue editor
Shayna Brown	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ryan Collison	....	foley engineer
Matthew Haasch	....	foley supervisor (as Matt Haasch)
Gregg Harris	....	sound recordist
Robert Hein	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert Hein	....	supervising sound editor
Bobby Johanson	....	adr mixer
Andrew Kris	....	sound editor: background (as Andy Kris)
Rhys Maitland-Jones	....	sound mix technician
Andrew Morgado	....	adr mixer
Glenfield Payne	....	sound effects editor
Jay Peck	....	foley artist
Philip Rogers	....	adr recordist
Kira Smith	....	boom operator
Michael Steinfeld	....	foley editor
Dominick Tavella	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Wahnon	....	coordinating sound editor
Garry Fiferman	....	sound (uncredited)
Mark Sheffield	....	sound mix technician (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John Ottesen	....	special effects coordinator (as John M. Ottesen)
Ron Ottesen	....	special effects foreman

Visual Effects by
Randall Balsmeyer	....	visual effects supervisor
J. John Corbett	....	lead compositing artist
Joseph DiValerio	....	3D modeler (as Joe DiValerio)
David Piombino	....	digital compositor
Michael P. Whipple	....	digital intermediate engineer
Adrienne Winterhalter	....	visual effects producer

Stunts
Leif Riddell	....	stunt driver

Camera and Electrical Department
Joseph Abbatecola	....	best boy grip
Cesar Baptista	....	grip
Kelly Britt	....	electrician
Vincent Camuto	....	additional video assist operator: second unit
Jonathan A. Davidson	....	grip
Andy Day	....	gaffer
Chris Drechsler	....	lighting technician
Anna Ferrarie	....	loader
John Gatland	....	grip
Christopher F. Graneto	....	grip
Shawn Greene	....	electrician
Andrew Greve	....	rigging electrician
Craig Paul Harris	....	electrician
James Heerdegen	....	grip
Denny Kortze	....	second assistant camera
Thomas Lappin	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Thomas Lappin	....	director of photography: second unit (as Tom Lappin)
Michael A. Leo	....	best boy rigging electric
Chris Lombardozzi	....	lighting technician
William MacGhee	....	rigging electrician
Charlie Marroquin	....	key grip
Ed Nessen	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Paul Niccolls	....	grip
Heather Norton	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera and Steadicam
Andrew Priestley	....	assistant camera
Peter Ramos	....	assistant camera
Andrew D. Schwartz	....	still photographer
Susan Starr	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Andrew Sweeney	....	dolly grip
David J. Thompson	....	Steadicam operator
T. Ray Treece	....	on-set video assist
Craig Vaccaro	....	key rigging grip
Zenfeek	....	additional electrician
J. Dan Wright	....	electrician (uncredited)

Animation Department
Annabel Coleman	....	animator: titles
Jeremy Cox	....	animator: titles

Casting Department
Jennifer Dubin	....	casting assistant
Sylvia Fay	....	extras casting
Lee Genick	....	extras casting
David H. Kramer	....	adr voice casting
Terry L. Lamfers	....	casting administrator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Pam Aaron	....	key set costumer
Stephanie Biear	....	seamstress
Danielle Cadorette	....	tailor
Caroline Duncan	....	assistant costume designer
Kate Edwards	....	wardrobe supervisor
Shawnique Hill	....	wardrobe
Debbie Lucas	....	seamstress
Natalia Parsons	....	costume coordinator
Marcia Patten	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Dana Bloder	....	digital intermediate producer
Don Ciana	....	color timer
Rick Derby	....	first assistant editor
Joe Gawler	....	digital intermediate colorist
Barbara Jean Kearney	....	digital intermediate executive producer (as Barbara Jean Kearny)
Russ Senzatimore	....	assistant editor
Kara Singrossi	....	assistant editor
Adam M. Weber	....	editorial production assistant

Music Department
Nancy Allen	....	supervising music editor
Nick Angel	....	music supervisor
Chris Barrett	....	digital music recordist
Carlos M. Cano	....	assistant music editor (as Carlos Cano)
Geoff Foster	....	score mixer
Geoff Foster	....	score recordist
Bruce Fowler	....	orchestrator
Rick Giovinazzo	....	orchestrator
Isobel Griffiths	....	music contractor
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Charles Lane	....	music consultant
Kirsten Lane	....	music consultant
Clint Mansell	....	conductor
Clint Mansell	....	orchestrator
Clint Mansell	....	score producer
Kathy Nelson	....	executive in charge of music
Justin Skomarovsky	....	orchestral arrangements
Booker White	....	music preparation
Nigel Wiesehan	....	score technical assistant
Vicki Williams	....	music coordinator

Other crew
Kate Bailey	....	assistant coordinator
Thomas Bianco	....	production accountant
Theo Brooks	....	production assistant
Jana Camacho	....	production assistant
Chris Camuto	....	second assistant accountant
Adam Carroll	....	location assistant
Robert Cavalluzzo	....	assistant location manager
Joshua Chaplinsky	....	production secretary
Eddy Collyns	....	location manager
Rebecca Conroy	....	production assistant
Jeremy Cox	....	title designer
Jennifer Crammer	....	production coordinator
Meredith Crowley	....	location scout
Sky Dietrich	....	production assistant
Jodi Domanic-Riccio	....	script supervisor
Chloe Dorigan	....	assistant: Tim Bevan
Matt Flanders	....	location scout
Karin Fong	....	title designer
Jennifer Zolten Freed	....	post-production accountant
Jamie Gallagher	....	daily generator operator
Niko Godfrey	....	production assistant
Jessalyn Haefele	....	production assistant
Susan Hegarty	....	dialect coach: Rachel Weisz
Sally May Homer	....	production assistant
Sean Ilnseher	....	location assistant
Sean Ilnseher	....	location manager: re-shoots
Katie Kramer	....	production assistant
Julie Kuehndorf	....	unit publicist
Kelly Lawrence	....	accounting clerk
Pamela Martin	....	stand-in
Lia Mayer-Sommer	....	assistant to executive producer
Anthony McClendon	....	location scout
Liz Modena	....	assistant accountant
Jasmine Mohamed	....	assistant: Ryan Reynolds
Karla Nappi	....	assistant: Kerry Orent
Karla Nappi	....	clearance
Sean Oliver	....	adr voice
Cynthia Onrubia	....	choreographer
Cesar Quinones	....	location scout
Jennifer Rapp	....	adr loop group
Allison Robin	....	product placement coordinator
Howard Samuelsohn	....	dialect coach
Harry Sando Jr.	....	additional set production assistant
Adam Schweig	....	production assistant
Brendan Shera	....	production assistant
Cara Shine	....	executive coordinator: Working Title
Loren Sklar	....	key production assistant
Hilary Smith	....	assistant location manager
Jessica Solce	....	assistant: Rachel Weisz
Keyri Soto	....	production assistant
Michelle Stella	....	clearance assistant
Lygia Day Szelwach	....	on-set teacher
Rachael Tartell	....	location coordinator
Jesse Thompkins III	....	assistant to director
Amy R. Trachtman	....	assistant production coordinator
Matt Traulsen	....	production assistant
Sarah Wang	....	production assistant
Nathan Warren	....	production assistant
Rebecca White	....	first assistant accountant
Shane Williams	....	location assistant
Wendy L. York	....	additional script supervisor
Dann Fink	....	adr loop group (uncredited)
Warner Loughlin	....	acting coach (uncredited)
Bill Timoney	....	adr voice group (uncredited)

Thanks
Tim Rakoczy	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures
• Ringerike Erste Filmproduktion
• Studio Canal
• Working Title Films

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2008) (Norway) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2008) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2008) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2008) (UK) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2008) (Argentina) (all media)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2008) (Russia) (all media)
• Universal Pictures (2009) (Japan) (DVD) (rental)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• fX Network (2010) (USA) (TV)

Special Effects

• Big Film Design

Other Companies

• Air Lyndhurst Studios  score recorded and mixed at (as Air Lyndhurst, London)
• Big Film Design  tail crawl design
• CSC  camera and grip equipment (as Camera Service Center)
• Clearance Domain  clearances
• Collegiate Images  basketball footage courtesy of
• Corbis  stock photographs
• David Kramer's Looping Group  background vocals
• EMI Records  soundtrack
• Getty Images  stock photographs
• Imaginary Forces  main title sequence and transitions
• Klass Entertainment  product placement
• Lakeshore Records  score album
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• London Session Orchestra, The  orchestra (uncredited)
• Marshall/Plumb Research Associates  legal research
• NBC News Archives  news footage courtesy of
• Postworks New York  editing facilities and equipment (as Postworks)
• Production Resources  product placement
• Right Music  music consultant
• Scion Films  production services
• Sonic Magic  adr recording
• Sony Pictures Stock Footage  stock footage
• Sound One Corporation  adr recorded at (as Sound One)
• Sound One Corporation  post-production sound
• Sound One Corporation  sound re-recorded at (as Sound One)
• Studio Photo Imaging  stills processing
• Sylvia Fay/Lee Genick & Associates Casting  extras casting
• Synxspeed  foreign dub (uncredited)
• Technicolor Digital Intermediates  digital intermediate
• Trevanna Post  post-production accounting
• Warwick  grip and electric equipment

Also Known As:

Un jour, peut-être (France)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, including some frank dialogue, language and smoking.

Runtime:

UK:112 min

Country:

UK | USA | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

UK:12A | Ireland:15A | Netherlands:AL | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Australia:PG | Singapore:PG | USA:PG-13 (certificate #43597) | South Korea:15 | Germany:o.Al. | Malaysia:U | Sweden:Btl | Australia:M (DVD release) | Argentina:13 | New Zealand:M | Portugal:M/12 | Iceland:12 (DVD rating) | Iceland:L | Brazil:12

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Abigail Breslin's character makes reference to her American Girls doll collection stating that they would be "worth a fortune". Breslin is the third actress to play one of the American Girls, Kit Kittredge, in her own movie (Kit Kittredge: An American Girl (2008)). Both films were released in 2008. (Other movies made from American Girls stories are based on the characters Felicity and Samantha)

Goofs:

Continuity: When Will is in April's apartment before they kiss, her hair keeps switching from framing her face to being pushed back or behind her ear.

Quotes:

April: Don't make me staple your head.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2008-02-16)" (2008)

Between a Maybe and a Definitely

The intention behind Adam Brooks's 'Definitely, Maybe' may be sincere, the film has heart but it's the writing that is disappointing. It could have used more comic sequences as it gets a tad dull at times. Most of the jokes that were used were not even funny, especially that whole sex-ed thing in the beginning (which is the kind of thing you expect in a bad American comedy). There are a few plot holes and the mystery behind 'who the mother is' isn't convincingly told.

Needless to say, 'Definitely, Maybe' is more a romantic drama than a comedy. The execution is quite decent. The cinematography is efficient. The score is not bad. Ryan Reynolds is cast against type. He shows growth as an actor and does a decent job. Rachel Weisz is brilliant as the ambitious and smoldering Summer. Isla Fisher is adorable (even though her role is a bit clichéd). Elizabeth Banks makes the best of her role but the writing lets her down. Provided that she's such an important character, there is too little of her in the movie. Abigail Breslin has her share of annoying moments and bad acting (especially in the beginning) but she's much better in the latter scenes, during the more intense moments. Kevin Kline is hilariously hideous.

'Definitely, Maybe' does have its syrupy moments but they're not overdone to the point of getting irritating. It's quite a decent film, perhaps, a good date movie. It's a shame that the writing is a letdown otherwise the movie could have been more than it is.