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

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

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:

Director Cameo: [Adam Brooks]The used bookstore owner.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The ends scene by April's apartment in Brooklyn shows a steam construction site with a stack in the background. In New York there is only steam in Manhattan, not in the streets of Brooklyn.

Quotes:

Hampton Roth: Beauty, ideals, love, don't mean squat anymore. It's all about power and money.
Will Hayes: I've read every single one of your books and you're completely obsessed with power and money.
Summer Hartley: Oh, well that's because he doesn't have any. Right, babe?
Hampton Roth: Babe, I am about the love.
Summer Hartley: Oh. Yes.
Hampton Roth: As you know, that's why you keep me around, to keep that rampant rapacious ambition of yours in check.
[to Will]
Hampton Roth: I have a thought! Why don't you use that newly acquired scintilla of power and influence to get Summer here to write an article about your man Robredo? That way Summer gets a break, and you get the word out.
Will Hayes: And what do you get, Hampton?
Summer Hartley: Yeah!
[...]

Movie Connections:

References The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Saw an advance screening and actually enjoyed it!

and that's saying a lot since I'm not a "romantic comedy" kind of gal.

The little girl is fabulous. Good casting. She's adorable without being perfect. Kevin Kline was an absolute delight as an unapologetic drunken writer/professor who also happens to be quite full of himself. Rachel Weisz (whom I normally do not care for) was completely (and unexpectedly) charming. Ryan Reynolds was also a good casting choice. Unexpectedly believable as a dad.

The bulk of the movie is him explaining to his daughter, bedtime story style (told entirely in flashbacks) about love and how he met her mother, with her being the proverbial "happy ending". Except ... she seems to be the only one who notices that her Dad really isn't happy at all. Isla Fisher also shines. Watching her character grow from someone who is completely devoid of any direction or purpose into a real woman, complete with self-esteem, was a nice touch.

Loved the relationship stories. It's amazing what you don't see when you are in a relationship, only to come to a realization much later. Anyone who has ever traded a trip on the QEII for a proverbial three hour tour on the S.S. Minnow relationship-wise will totally relate.

The fact that Ryan Reynolds sometimes gets so carried away with the story that he forgets he is talking to a little girl leads to a few (ok, so it's a lot) contrived chuckles along with a couple of genuinely funny moments.

It's not going to win an Oscar or break a box office record, but if you want a completely enjoyable two hour escape ... see this movie.