Susan Granger’s review of “Definitely, Maybe” (Universal Pictures)
Making a contemporary romantic comedy isn’t easy but this one delivers an enjoyably romantic whodunit, just in time for Valentine’s Day weekend.
Will Hayes (Ryan Reynolds) is a 30-something Manhattan dad in the midst of an impending divorce when his precocious10 year-old daughter Maya (Abigail Breslin) returns from a sex education class demanding to know how her parents met and fell in love. That leads Will to tell her about his relationships with three important women in his life, changing the names so she has to guess which of them he married.
“It’s like a love story/mystery,” Maya burbles with endearing curiosity.
Is it Emily (Elizabeth Banks), his college sweetheart; Summer (Rachel Weisz), an ambitious, bohemian journalist; or April (Isla Fisher), his frazzled, free-spirited best friend?
Writer/director Adam Brooks (“Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason,” “Wimbledon,” “French Kiss”) obviously understands that romantic relationships don’t end, they change; that’s inherent for the believability quotient. Too bad producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner (“Four Wedding and a Funeral,” “Notting Hill”) didn’t insist on some judicious pruning because the less-than-sparkling banter runs on too long.
As a leading man, likeable Ryan Reynolds (“Van Wilder,” “Smokin’ Aces”) may be a bit on the bland side, but Abigail Breslin is as audacious and entrancing as she was in “Little Miss Sunshine.” And while identifying who wound up as her ‘mom’ becomes obvious, it’s helpful that Abigail could actually be the daughter of any of the three actresses. Derek Luke, as Will’s buddy/partner, scores as a comic foil, as does Kevin Kline as a political analyst with a penchant for younger women.
On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Definitely, Maybe” is a soulful, sweet-natured 7, proving that living “happily ever after” isn’t quite so easy.
