Definitely, Maybe (Widescreen) Reviews

• Who will win in the end?

  
  By A1ZTE3K3EN4TS3 on 2008-02-15
  The concept here is great: on the eve of his divorce, a father tells his daughter the story of how he fell in love with her mother by changing names so she has to guess who she is in the story. What's so amazing is how they were able to pull off this story with three female leads all interacting with the same man, and yet somehow make us cheer each of them on in their own way. Ryan Reynolds is great in the lead, easily flowing from the caring father of the present to the stricken college student of the past and beyond. As the story unfolds, you'll meet Emily, April, and Summer--three women who will have a dramatic impact on his life in various ways.
  
  There are some genuinely funny moments in this film, and I honestly can say I never really got bored at any point. It was like watching three romances unfolds and ultimately fall apart for different reasons. No doubt you will find yourself choosing a favorite, and like Maya (the daughter), you'll be hoping your favorite will turn out to be her mother. Be prepared to be surprised though.
  
  As the movie drew closer to the end, I honestly thought I was going to be disappointed in how it ended. But the movie managed to end perfectly. Reynolds is a great actor who can be flippant and cocky one moment, then broken-hearted and in love during the next. Isla Fisher does a great job as April, the outgoing copy girl who works with him during the Bill Clinton campaign.
  
  If you're looking for a great romantic movie, this is the one.
  
  

• A different take on Romantic Comedy

  
  By A14N5L5T089VX3 on 2008-03-10
  In most romantic comedies, you have a story where boy meets girl, then boy loses girl, and finally boy and girl re-unite and live happily ever after (or v.v.).
  
  "Definitely, Maybe" is definitely not your usual run-of-the-mill romantic comedy, and refreshingly so: taking a very different approach to the subject.
  
  For starters, the storyline revolves around the relationship between a father (Ryan Reynolds, played by Will Hayes) and his daughter, Maya (played by Abigail Breslin). Throughout most of the film, Ryan's romantic adventures (and misadventures) are potrayed as a series of flashbacks, as he relates the story of his life to his daughter in the form of a bedtime story.
  
  Some of the dialog, particularly Maya's lines, are hysterically, if not shockingly funny - such as a very clinical discussion she has with her father about procreation as he picks her up at school after a "sex ed" class: she asks, for instance, how a baby could be "mistake" after going through all that effort to try and make one. Later, she asks her father (after he relates his past relationships to her) "What's the male word for 'Slut'?" To which he sheepishly responds "They're still working on that one."
  
  An interesting twist is that the father thinks he's helping Maya to become more mature and sophisticated in her knowldge of the many emotional dimensions and complexities of adult relationsips. In fact, there's more to it than that: as Maya's dad tells the story of his relationships with three very different women: "Emily", "Summer" and "April" to his daughter, you see him growing in maturity as he drifts from one relationship into another (and back again). You also begin to understand why his marriage to Maya's mom failed (as is hinted at the start of the film): he's the one who needed to grow up. A point emphasized when Maya explicitly tells him so.
  
  Ultimately, this movie spoke to me about the importance of maturity in relationships, and about how Love doesn't always come in the package (or place) you expect.
  
  I give "Definitely, Maybe" four stars - not likely to get an Academy Award, but certainly a sweet, funny story with excellent performances.
  
  
  

• Are You My Mother?

  
  By A18G7GG53G2X8A on 2008-02-16
  Romantic comedies often focus on the chemistry between adults, but rarely do they focus on the chemistry between an adult and a child. Such chemistry shines in "Definitely, Maybe," which sees Ryan Reynolds and Abigail Breslin playing one of the most charming father/daughter duos of recent memory. They just work well, and this is despite the fact that they're not given much screen time together. I say this because most of the film takes place before her character was born, recalling the events that led to the Reynolds character meeting her mother. This idea is heartwarming, if a little contrived; then again, I don't think a romantic comedy could even exist without being contrived, seeing as they never represent reality. After suffering through the dreadful "27 Dresses," films like "Definitely, Maybe" prove that such films can still be entertaining.
  
  It all begins when soon-to-be-divorced Will Hayes (Reynolds) picks up his daughter, Maya (Breslin) from her school, which is swarming with parents outraged over the day's display of sex education. Maya challenges Will with a series of embarrassing questions, and on their return home, she wants him to tell her the story of how he and her mother met. He initially refuses, mostly because his is a very complicated story; he had not one but three serious girlfriends, and all of them had important parts to play. Will eventually decides to tell Maya the story, but only on the condition that he's allowed to change the names of the girlfriends. Maya actually likes this, because it will give her the chance to guess which woman became her mother.
  
  Thus begins the story proper, which begins in Wisconsin in 1992. Will is a college student who dreams of becoming a politician, and he wants to follow this dream by moving to New York and joining Bill Clinton's first presidential campaign. This doesn't mesh with the plans of his college sweetheart, whose name has been changed to Emily (Elizabeth Banks). Emily says she's worried that New York will change Will into something he's not; Will seems to understand that she's really scared of him succeeding and being too good for her, and because of that, he promises that their love will remain. Things obviously take a complicated turn when he arrives in New York, which for him is not only a blizzard of political activity, but also a hotbed of social development.
  
  Here enters a woman named April (Isla Fisher), who doesn't consider herself a Democrat, a Republican, or even an Independent--political affiliations mean nothing to her because it means choosing a side, and choosing a side is unimportant in the grand scheme of things. There's an immediate connection between her and Will, although neither one is ready to admit that it will lead to something more than friendship. This is especially true since Will is ready to propose to Emily, who's finally found time to visit New York. I won't say whether or not he goes through with it, nor will I reveal what Emily says to him; what I will say is that one of Emily's old college friends enters the picture and complicates things further.
  
  This friend is Summer Hartley (Rachel Weisz), a willful young woman aspiring to be journalist. She's introduced to Will through Emily's diary, which she wanted Summer to have as a gift (it describes some pretty naughty stuff, which is probably why Will reads it without permission). Despite the fact that she's sleeping with her thesis director--a pompous writer named Hampton Roth (Kevin Kline)--she quickly charms her way into Will's life, and he seems more than happy let her. At least, he does at first; his co-ownership of a political advertising agency is jeopardized when her published article paints a damning picture of the man he's endorsing as Governor. He quickly begins to rethink his situation, forcing him to wonder if the right woman is out there or if she even exists. Of course, we know right from the start that she does, so it's only a matter of Maya figuring everything out: Is her mother April, Emily, or Summer?
  
  The final third of "Definitely, Maybe" is the weakest part, relying too heavily on the routine material romantic comedies are notorious for. This isn't to say that the film derails; it stays right on track all throughout, and it doesn't lose itself to an overabundance of sappy dialogue or implausible twists of fate. It's not free of them, of course, but at least they're used sparingly and at levels that are tolerable. And there's no denying that the main characters are engaging, especially Maya, who's more open to lines of communication than her father initially is. Watching them, I never once questioned or even analyzed their love for each other--I was immediately taken by it, and I continued to believe it even after the film ended.
  
  These characters alone make this film worthwhile, so much so that we can forgive many of the more formulaic aspects; let's be vague and say that the final sequence is overwhelmingly predictable, a cliché taken from a deep pool of romantic comedy clichés. But I didn't mind this time because the story could actually support such a sequence; this is essentially a father/daughter story, and as such, it's appropriate--maybe even necessary--that the daughter would want the father to find the happiness he's been longing for (which obviously has nothing to do with political aspirations). Despite being flawed and generally harmless, "Definitely, Maybe" is still one of the better romantic comedies. I smiled more often, I laughed longer, and I was touched at a deeper level.
  
  

• Definitely, Maybe

  
  By AW99SBGWEXP0J on 2008-02-21
  Will Hayes (Reynolds) is almost divorced. After picking up his daughter, Maya (Breslin), they head to his house where she asks him to tell her the story of how he and her mother met. Her hope is that his memories will deter him from signing the divorce paperwork. He agrees, but decides to change the names of those in the story so that Maya will have to guess who her mom is. The three main choices are Emily (Banks), Summer (Weisz), and April (Fisher). Emily is Will's college sweetheart, Summer is Emily's ex-lover, and April is a co-worker at the Clinton campaign.
  
  "Definitely, Maybe" is a surprisingly good romantic comedy. The reason it really works though, is because of the uncertainty of who Will will end up with. It isn't your typical romantic comedy. Even if you pick out who Maya's mom is, you may not predict the ending. The trio of actresses are all good in there roles, and manage to help Reynolds along. Kevin Kline even turns up for a scene stealing role as Summer's professor/lover. "Definitely, Maybe" is a solid date movie that will be enjoyed by both men and women. I recommend it.
  
  
  

• A SORRY EXCUSE FOR A ROMANTIC COMEDY

  
  By A1JVSIWDF0WT22 on 2008-04-23
  In a movie that tries to pose as a warm father and daughter tale:
  a) We learn that the girl's mother slept with the father's best friend as well as with one of his other girlfriends, the latter also happens to be having an affair with a guy in his sixties (Kevin Kline in one of his most indifferent performances ever).
  b) The girl learns, among other things, about threesomes & several applications of the word "sleuth", with the backdrop of the Clinton campaign and administration, complete with detailed Geniffer Flowers and Monica Lewinsky's references.
  If this is your idea of warm & fuzzy, don't miss this DVD. Personally, I wish the trailer had shown the true nature of this piece of crap so I could have avoided it.
  
  
• Once Upon a Time.....
  By A2XFA2HIIKS5G2 on 2008-06-19
  "Once upon a time, before e-mail and cell phones and TV reality shows"
  - Will Hayes (Ryan Reynolds) in DEFINITELY MAYBE
  
  Once upon a time we all fell in love and we know and remember how good it felt. All of our senses were piqued and we thought that this love or even any of our loves would last forever. For some of us that was true and we were the lucky ones and for others...well let us say that they were not so lucky; but most of them kept looking, hoping to find their soul mate or what they wanted to believe was the "real thing".
  
  In the sweet romantic comedy DEFINITELY MAYBE, Albert Brooks has directed and written a winner. The movie sends a message to children of divorce which is heart felt; yet I don't believe that the movie is necessarily one for children. Maybe it is one for our grown up children, now adults, or others who may have gone through a divorce in their family and still somehow are trying to cope with the loss.
  
  Brooks has quite a few films like BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON, WIMBLETON, AND FRENCH KISS. But this little gem is different and an intelligent study into the history of love (for better or for worse).
  
  While watching the film, I wondered how would you ever tell your daughter a historic rendition of your love life or tell her a bit about all of your leading ladies in your life if you were a father of a 10 year old girl (Maya Hayes) who in this movie is played by Abigail Breslin . This is exactly what happened. For those of you not familiar with the young Ms. Breslin, she played a role in the movie LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE.
  
  When one thinks of the prospect of relating such a history, the viewer has to feel a bit of trepidation for Will Hayes because along with this narrative will be revealed all of the bewildering aspects of life which are part of being in love. And you have to love our tormented father, because he tells the story in such a way so as not to destroy his daughter's belief in the power of love, and not to deprive her of a happy ending. He does not want her not to believe that there is a soul mate out there or at least even a not so perfect spouse who is in every sense still just right for her.
  
  One thing Will tried to not do was to shatter her dreams by relating all of the ugly truths that are part of life; but some of those fell out along the way. One of Maya's revelations was when she said, "Dad, I can't believe you smoked, you drank, and you were a slut." Some of us might think that this is quite the language for a nice 10-year-old girl and some might think it was funny. But this sort of language and some of the other innuendoes may make this not a film for your children; but you have to be the judge.
  
  There is a lot of flashback in the movie and one has to believe that these present day characters were about 10 - 15 years younger at the time. It is a stretch but when you watch a movie you are always drawn into this kind of make believe so you are easily strung along. Will (Ryan Reynolds) goes though his litany of failed or uncompleted loves and one has to wonder how he managed to afford the tokens of love which he produced. It is all in good fun and in the right spirit and is an intelligent probing of why folks fall in love and with whom and at what time in their lives.
  
  Emily, Summer, April or any other names that mark the passages of love in one's life would be appropriate for all of us; and these names could be interchanged with male ones if a woman and the story would still be anyone's story. Any one of us could probably tell similar tales which we have buried somewhere deep in our psyche; what makes this movie nice is that it puts it all out there for you to be able to let go of what might have been and seize the moment of what is.
  
  Like our protagonist says, " Once upon a time.....
  
  Recommend: B-
  
  Bentley/2008
  
  
• Maybe and Maybe Not
  By A3EE0H0NWQ9QVL on 2008-06-30
  (2.5 *'s) All's not fair in love and politics. That may be the newfangled saying of romantic dramedy `Definitely, Maybe' an episodic, story-telling film about the hopes and disappointments of aspiring Democratic campaign worker and lover, Will Hayes (Ryan Reynolds).
  
  Adorable as usual, Abigail Breslin plays his daughter, Maya, and as typical of other Breslin performances, her character is precocious, but lovable. The movie starts with Will picking her up at school where a ruckus ensues after some controversial sex-ed lessons have taken place. Although progressive, Will has difficultly hearing his daughter talk so explicitly about sex as they arrive home. Yet all this leads up to a discussion about her origins.
  
  The rest of movie has Will telling her the story of how he met her mother. For her this is an important point about her indirectly stated desire to be loved and not thought as a fluke or an accident. Starting back from 1988 when as a student in Madison, WI he campaigned hard for Dukakis's victory for President and Vice President George H.W. Bush's defeat, he also marks his romantic journey. In Madison he falls in love with Emily (Elizabeth Banks) who shares his passion for the campaign and romance.
  
  Ambition, however, delivers an unsteady hand as he fast-forwards to 1992 when Will sets his sites on New York City and his hopes on Bill Clinton. Starting at the bottom, he's known as "The T.P. Guy," at campaign headquarters, replenishing supplies and getting coffee and bagels. Experience, however, gets him to do more and soon he is calling for donations. It also gives him a chance to meet other women. April Hoffman (Isla Fisher) is the copy girl who is independent romantically as she is politically. Then, there's Summer Hartley (Rachel Weisz) who's romantically attached to Hampton Roth, a professor providing a spring-autumn live in relationship where Summer is closer to spring. In the mix are diaries and an intimate note in a copy of 'Jane Eyre' that try to bind all these romances together.
  
  I found myself liking the characters in 'Definitely, Maybe'. I could also appreciate the real life importance of the proceedings. Just as we know it, Will is ready and available when his loved one isn't, and when he's on the mend, she isn't and vice versa. Ambiguity is well documented, and commitments are difficult to keep at best. The movie's not only bookmarked by exchanged books, but the music as well. R.E.M.'s "Stand" heralds 1988; "Come as You Are," pinpoints 1992 with Nirvana, etc. In love and politics, the players get what they put into it. Clinton and Lacredo aren't permanent or perfect and neither are the lovers in one`s everyday life. I enjoyed the characters, the humor, and the developments, but sometimes I thought 'Definitely, Maybe' was slight at times and could have delivered more. Well, did I like the movie? Maybe and maybe not...
  
  
• Charmless and dull
  By A3W13VVBRY5GL7 on 2008-02-09
  Oddly, this has opened here in Ireland before the U.S, and, being in a romantic comedy frame of mind, my boyfriend and I went to see it this evening... ...and I'm very sorry we didn't go see "Juno" again instead.
  
  After his daughter Maya gets a wildly inappropriate and very detailed talk on sex education at school, Will Hayes (Reynolds) is forced to explain the facts of his relationship with her mother to Maya, and the bulk of this movie is told in flashback format, during the 1992 Clinton Presidential Campaign.
  
  Performances are okay - nothing standout, good or bad - Kevin Kline phones in a caricatured, hammy turn as Hampton Roth, Rachel Weisz is reasonable, Reynolds is okay... ...but sadly, all the cast walk around as though completely removed from the heart of the story. Similarly, there's very little structure or strength to the first half of this movie - nothing happens we haven't seen before and no-one is particularly affected by the goings-on of the perfunctory plot.
  
  Direction is similarly pedestrian, there's nothing exciting or charming or visually engaging about "Definitely Maybe", and nothing too awful, either... ...but really, what's the point of that? As polished and glossy and faux-reassuring as the actors and the production are, there's a horrible hollow feeling to this movie, which comes into its own when you realise that you're not being entertained - you're simply being led by the hand through an incredibly blasé script by an emotional gourd of a movie - it seems big on the outside, but there's actually nothing beneath.
  
  It's not even a particularly good bit of escapist fluff - at its heart, "Definitely Maybe" is a half-baked and overblown soap opera - and only has enough real content for one forty-minute episode, at that. Not recommended at all, even for the romantic die-hards out there - go rent your favourite romantic movie instead: "Definitely Maybe" does nothing new, and at least with your favourite movies, you know you'll have fun.
  
  
• Definitely Worth The Cost of a Rental
  By A1E9QU27DMFRGS on 2008-06-11
  Adam Brooks' Definitely, Maybe starring Ryan Reynolds is the kind of fairytale that could only possibly work in today's post-millenium, cynical times. Will Hayes (Reynolds) is sweet, slightly overly dramatic speech writer and divorced dad to Maya (Abigail Breslin). The film opens with his voice over, right away setting up that this is not your typical romantic comedy. After picking up his daughter from school and learning her class got a lesson in sexual education that day, Maya is hell bent to find out how her father came to fall in love with her mother, a topic all the more heated now that they are no longer together. Will starts his story way back in the early nineties, preparing his daughter to hear about the three women he had serious relationships with and leaving it up to her to figure out which one is her mother. Though it is painfully obvious which woman is in fact Maya's mother from the very first moment after we've met all three, Definitely, Maybe is just as sweet (if at times just as slightly overly dramatic) as its protagonist, offering reminiscence of some simpler times to cushion the harsh blow of the ever-changing world around both father and daughter.
  
  Definitely, Maybe is in many ways a love letter: first to the women Will has left (or who left Will) but also to the city that surrounds him, New York. Brooks, along with his Cinematographer, Florian Ballhaus, are fond of long tracking shots of the characters moving through the city streets, lingering on the architecture, foliage, and background players to exhibit that it is all important to this man's story. The city is as much involved as any of the women; in fact, the city could be considered Will's fourth love. It is the kind of New York that only exists in movies, from the pleasing fall color palette to how he manages to cross paths time and again with the same people, giving it an almost magical, ethereal quality and undoubtedly being used as a device to further drive home Brooks' modern-day fairytale imagery.
  
  Unfortunately, much of the dialogue does feel contrived, and the only reason it is saved is due to the phenomenal casting. Elizabeth Banks, as Emily, Will's college girlfriend, perhaps has the worst of it, but her down-to-Earth and sunny demeanor deliver the words at times a bit sheepish but never cartoonish. Rachel Weisz as Summer, the free spirited, precocious writer, makes herself a bit more mysterious and in turn creates another dimension to her character just through subtle eyework and body language while interacting with Reynolds. Isla Fisher as April, the somewhat flakey but always hopeful doe-eyed ingénue, easily flits back and forth between serious and goofy, warming the audience to her immediately. Since the just-under-two-hour course of Definitely, Maybe must include the arc of three relationships, some are better developed than others, which only makes it all the easier to determine just exactly how the story will end. Ironically, though the audience is often one step ahead of Will (and therefore one step ahead of the film itself), there is never a dull moment; anticipation runs high as you find yourself easily caught up in this messy world, rooting for the young man to finally come to his senses both in the past and the present.
  
  Since the story is mostly Will's, Reynolds is really given a chance to shine as a leading man, for the first time in a non-genre feature film. He eagerly accepts the challenge and gives every scene his all, making his performance the biggest joy to watch of them all. And his love life was just so complicated that it takes the majority of the film to explain, unfortunately relegating Breslin to a supporting player. She doesn't get to offer much more than some spunky retorts and overly enthusiastic voiceover. The few scenes she shares with Reynolds, she of course steals, though for the most part, those are moments already seen just by viewing the trailer. What is nice, though, is how she does manage to pop up right before you've completely forgotten she is the reason for this diatribe, which leaves the impression that throughout everything, she is always on her father's mind, and if nothing else, that is a sweet sentiment with which to be left.
  
  For some reason, watching Definitely, Maybe in anamorphic widescreen on the DVD make the images look compressed, as if the original was just over 2.35:1 and therefore had to be refigured for at-home systems. The result is not completely distracting, but to a trained eye, it is noticeable. However, the rest of the DVD offers features great enough to make up for any visual quality shortcomings: the audio commentary with Brooks and Reynolds sounds like two buddies hanging out and having a good time, which is welcoming, though not necessarily insightful. Of course there are the obligatory deleted scenes, as well as two featurettes: "Creating a Romance," and "The Changing Times of Definitely, Maybe," both of which are exactly what they sound like. "Creating a Romance" is a behind-the-scenes look at the storytelling devices used to set apart Will's three relationships. Through interviews, the audience is given a little back story on each character, explaining just how she is different from the next. In "The Changing Times of Definitely, Maybe," we are taken behind-the-scenes of the production design and given a crash course in how they transformed Will's world through the decades. This is a chuckle-worthy piece, mostly because of the nostalgia it invokes, especially when considering the music choices within the film.
  
  A gag reel would have been a nice inclusion, as well, but regardless, though at-home audiences may take an indecisive cue from Definitely, Maybe's title and debate with themselves over whether or not to pick this one up on DVD, the verdict should definitely lean toward the former and not the latter.
  
  
• Funniest Lines Came From Maya
  By A30Q6R59CEH7Z3 on 2008-06-19
  This was billed as a romantic comedy but I didn't find it anywhere near a comedy. Maya delivers the best comedic, if not the only, comedic lines. That being said, it was a nice family film. Will is reluctant to talk about his past because it's "complicated" and Maya is tired of hearing "it's complicated". Finally, the two make a truce and Will shares his life's story--romance wise--with as much innocence as he can muster up. But as the story unfolds, it's not Maya that gets a lesson in life, but Will. Some consider the character of Will to be rather dull, but you have to remember that he's supposed to be depressed. He'd gotten burned so many times in his relationships--his best friend, his girlfriends, his job--that he's all but given up on finding true happiness. When his daughter tells him he needs to get happy again, he tries to tell her that he is--that he has her, but wise beyond her years, she sets him straight. She loves that he feels she's the best thing that ever happened to him, but she knows he needs more, he deserves more. If you spend your life doing everything for your children and find that you aren't as happy as you'd like to be and worry that doing things for you--to make you happy--could hurt your children's happiness, then you must take a queue from Maya and find happiness because when you are happy, so are your children.
  
  
• A good, surprising comedy
  By A268EEWUXYCA8Q on 2008-02-25
  I'm not the intended audience for romantic comedies. Indeed, I'm the one in the corner, rolling his eyes and looking at his watch every-so-often, hoping the movie will end prematurely. I'm just not the person these movies are made for. The number of romantic comedies I do like can probably be counted on one (...maybe two if I stretched it), and Definitely, Maybe is one of those.
  
  The premise is pretty simple. Ryan Reynolds plays a father named Will to Abigail Breslin's Maya. Will is in the midst of a divorce, and Maya (who just learned about where babies come from) wants to know the particulars of his relationship with her mother. So, Will envisions a story that talks about the three major loves of his life but changes their names so that Abigail (and, consequently, the audience) keeps guessing which one is her mother.
  
  What follows is reminiscient of When Harry Met Sally...if Harry was involved with three women. The story Will tells talks about love lost and gained over the course of his young adult life, starting when Clinton was running for presidency and moving to today. Throughout the years, he continues to run into the free-living April (played by the lovely Isla Fisher), the rascally Summer (played by Rachel Weisz) who is also a reporter, and Will's first real love Emily (played by Elizabeth Banks).
  
  The structure of the film enables the film makers to break the traditional romantic comedy struggle and, even when the cliche raises, they are able to hide it better than others. But, truthfully, the thing that won me over was the humor. I have become a Ryan Reynolds fan, especially since his role in The Nines, and his comedic timing is perfect for this type of film. Additionally, Isla Fisher is always enjoyable; I've loved her since Wedding Crashers.
  
  Finally, the chemistry, something that is oh-so-important and not always attained, was really good, especially between Reynolds and Abigail as his daughter. Their relationship was believeable and funny, providing a terrific framing to the story. Overall, Definitely, Maybe was an enjoyable film that won me over simply based on the humor quotient. It's a great date movie.
  
  
• I just finished watching it....
  By A24A7B28ITNDO5 on 2008-06-16
  Wow, what a great movie. I havent seen such a heart-felt romantic comedy in so many years and this really jumpstarted that romantic side of heart that's been dying to see a good romantic comedy. This movie is simply superb in execution and performance... touching and funny in all the right places and I never once felt bored despite its seemingly long duration. I thought of doing some internet surfing but couldnt bear to tear my eyes away and miss those good moments, and there are many.
  
  I would rate this on the top of my list for romantic comedies. I hope we see more of Ryan Reynolds because I liked him a lot in 2 guys and a girl and a pizza joint. The actresses were all memorable and amazing (especially Isla Fisher). Anyways, you cant go wrong with this one when you want to make your heart warm a little.
  
  
• Great Film for Dads and Pre-teen Daughters to Watch Together
  By A3AEUU9FIGRGAR on 2008-06-29
  I bought the film after overhearing a 10 year old girl describe it to another 10 year old in the aisle at Walmart. Sounded like a good movie to watch with my 10 year old too. And it was, for we both enjoyed it, including mom too. Very good film for the middle school age family to watch together.
  
  
• Definitely Worth Seeing
  By A2H9UO8RYFX5MB on 2008-07-01
  'Definitely Maybe' is sweet, funny, and surprisingly honest. As a father with daughters, I really felt like the movie captured the dynamic of a good father-daughter relationship well. I knew I was really into it when I actually got mad at the main character (Ryan Reynolds) for not doing something, and then realized I knew exactly why he did it the way he did it, and I might even have done the same...foolish as it was.
  
  Its not really a complex story, but full of the little complexities that make life interesting. The ups and downs of relationships, the random chances that turn into life-altering decisions, and the choices people make for themselves and for those around them -- they're all here, somewhat condensed and simplified of course, to make them more digestible in the short span of time the movie takes. It takes a lifetime to really explore some of these things, but 'Definitely Maybe' does a fine job in the time it has.
  
  The little girl is charming and wonderful and surprised me more than once, the lead actor shows surprising depth, and each of the three women add extra dimension to the story. Rachel Weisz is particularly good in her role, and stunning as always.
  
  For dads and daughters, for a little romance, for a good laugh, for an honest look at life and relationships...'Definitely Maybe' is a great little movie, for many reasons.
  
  
• No if, ands or maybes; this is definitely a wonderful little film...
  By ANCOMAI0I7LVG on 2008-09-16
  I, for one, am smitten with this film. Okay, so sure, it is not `perfect', but honestly, for the sake of this review we will label it as such. I seriously loved every minute of this movie and would watch it again, any place, any time.
  
  The film tells the story of Will Hayes as he tries to explain to his ten-year-old daughter Maya how he met her mother. We find out immediately that Will and his wife are divorcing and he has his daughter for the night. She's curious as to how her parents got together and so Will tells her a story about the three women in his life and tells her that she has to figure out which one is her mother. Maya gets settled into her bed for her `love story mystery' and Will begins his tale of love, life and loss. Will tells of his relationships with Emily, Summer and April. Will and Emily were high school sweethearts who grew apart when Will's aspirations to become President of the United States wedged between them. Summer is the beautiful journalist who's own life goals waged war on her love affair with Will, and April is the spunky idealist who was always too much of a friend to ever become anything more.
  
  Will's story is interesting and engrossing, but it is the beautiful story unfolding off screen between father and daughter that touched me deeply. Sure, the main focus may be on Will's love life, but we are constantly reminded that he is bonding with his daughter, and when Will finally tells Maya the happy ending I dare you to hold back the tears.
  
  `Definitely, Maybe' may suffer in some areas from a clichéd script, but the script never feels tired or boring. It always rises above its own handicaps to create a story worth listening to and worth adoring. The ending is far from expected (thank the lord in heaven) and it is one that makes the entire experience all the more gratifying, especially as young Maya begins to understand the true meaning of happiness.
  
  The acting is also, for the most part, superb. Young Abigail Breslin (Oscar nominated I should add) is not my general cup-of-tea when it comes to child acting. I tend to be more fascinated by the Ronan's and the Fanning's but I must say that her approach to Maya was warm and endearing. The three women in Will's life were all handled wonderfully by Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz and the outstanding Isla Fisher. Banks is perfectly warm, the ideal vision of the high school sweetheart (or the `safe' choice). Weisz is intoxicating, with her come hither stare and her mysterious smile. Fisher is above and beyond amazing as April, always keeping the audience glued to her every movement. She is so charming and sincere that one can't help but fall head over heals in love with her.
  
  I have always found Reynolds rather bland (except for in `The Amityville Horror') and this is really no exception, but his co-stars elevate his performance drastically.
  
  In the end I have to say that this is a delightful film, a wonderful answer back to the romantic comedy of today. It's charming, sweet and moving and will have you feeling warm and fuzzy all over by the time the credits start to roll. Sure, some may not find this as engaging and genuine as I have, but I guaranty you that any father (especially one's with daughters) will find this heartwarming to the very last drop.
  
  
• Cute
  By A2I0CEBYLTLMXS on 2008-02-17
  Ryan Reynolds has all the appeal of three-day leftovers, but the women (and pint-sized Abigail Breslin) make Definitely, Maybe, a cute, if unremarkable movie. An about-to-get-divorced father tells his precocious daughter the story of how he met her mother, and about the other women who captured his heart. The premise is a little laughable, but the story works well as a romantic comedy that explores the "what ifs" of relationships.
  
  
  
• A good romantic comedy & a reminder about what matters most
  By A2NVQZ4Y7Y0J1R on 2008-03-03
  Since "Definitely, Maybe" is a romantic comedy you shouldn't expect too much. Still, there's more there than a lot of viewers realize.
  
  For its genre it's a pretty good movie. We don't really get the cliche "meet cute" between two central characters. This is a story about a soon to be divorced father telling a cute mystery to his daughter about how he met her mother and a few other women he met along the way. While a lot of the plot points are typical rom-com standards, the set up is original. And yes, if you're paying attention you will know how the movie ends long before the credits roll. But that's OK because it's that kind of movie. If you want a surprise ending don't watch any romantic comedy.
  
  The one major weakness in the film - and it's minor for the most part, is the lack of authenticity in depicting the era and the characters aging. We don't really get a sense that 1992 is really 1992 and we certainly don't see the characters age as 16 years go by. Will, the central character, looks like he's about 4 years older by the end of the film. Not sure why the director made this error.
  
  **Possible Spoiler Alert**
  
  The deeper and far more important part of the story is Will's evolution as a political idealist and his commitment to his young daughter.
  
  He starts off in 1992 as this starry eyed campaign staffer working on Bill Clinton's presidential campaign in New York. Over the years both his idealism and his political career go down in flames after a series of disappointments. His attitude change is sealed when he throws his plate of noodles at the TV screen when he sees Clinton question the definition of the word "is." To drive the final nail in the coffin, near the end of the film Will sees Clinton running through Central Park with his Secret Service agents. Will hollers out to him about how he worked on his '92 campaign. Clinton ignores him while giving him a single thumb up gesture.
  
  Will hates his current job in advertising. But he does love his daughter. It's not strongly stated, but it's probably what gives him the energy to go to work each morning. The one thing missing is being with someone he loves and loves him in return. The loss of his idealism is what makes all of this more powerful and meaningful for the viewer.
  
  As a former political activist I can attest to the truth in the depiction of Will's character. Just like April states in the movie, in the end you realize how most of the politicians are in it for themselves. This is a great movie to show you what really matters.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Definitely, Yes!
  By AGIGF7QG1WYPM on 2008-07-18
  As a guy, I have high demands for my chick flicks. Something like the predictable tripe that was 27 Dresses makes me want to retreat into a self-induced coma. However, films like Love, Actually and Notting Hill were exceptionally well written and real. Definitely, Maybe follows in the same tradition of quality, if not pattern. I found alot of myself in the character portrayed by Ryan Reynolds, who as an actor, I have always been on the fence concering his acting range. Not anymore. He gives a truly emotional and grounded performance here. The female leads are pitch-perfect as well. To me, Isla Fisher is a standout. You can't help but fall in love with her.
  
  If you like your chick flicks to have a little substance, and a dash of realistic characters, check this one out. It is NOT a LIFETIME movie of the week, thank God!
  
  
• Not just 'how I met your mother'.
  By A2V7OAINYLZD69 on 2008-07-20
  This is a little bit more than the basic 'How I met your mother' movie. The basic set up has soon to be divorced Will, explaining the story of how he met his 10 year old daughter, Maya's, mother. The start of Will's tale is from just before his big life jump off point just after college, where he moved to NYC to work on the 92 Clinton campaign.
  
  The story moves along using the big relationship points of Will's 3 biggest girl friend relationships. Starting with his college sweetheart, Emily, to his coworker April and intellectual partner Summer. But to keep Maya guessing, all the names are changed and she has to keep guessing as to how it all happened.
  
  Maya works as part narrator, part character to keep the story moving with interjections and running commentary. The other women here keep things moving when Will gets bogged down as each one drops out and pops back up at several points in his life. Once Maya finally discovers who her mother is in the story, it takes a fast paced turn back to the state of Will's current love life. Will and Maya then go try and find the one woman from his past who they both think will make him, in the end, happy again.
  
  
• Vanwilder meets dadhood in zany romance !
  By APM2M2W8RTLLF on 2008-09-15
  My biggest difficulty is the continuing Hollywood screwing with 'sex education', as if it would be taught to all grades (kindergarten too) and that Democrats must be as morally corrupt as Bill Clinton. The biz doesn't want to examine abortion, that would be too hard, instead we're shown a morally loose journalist who conveniently has a child out of wedlock. Someday I'd like to see abortion dealt with as a realistic but alternate choice. Perhaps that would raise conversations about pro-life society's "after the fact" condemnation AND denial of financial support to unwed mothers and sex ed.
  
  I actually enjoyed the "boy-slut" observation and comments about alcohol and tobacco abuse. Still, too many cliches ! Make them stop it now !
  
  Was Anne Coulter a screen writer, or perhaps, an advisor ?
  
  
• Didn't Connect With It.
  By AUJEF31CXWTCQ on 2008-09-21
  Definitely Maybe is the story of Will Hayes, a man going through a divorce, and his daughter Maya. Maya begs Will to tell her the story of her mother. Will obliges, changing the names of the women in the story so Maya has to guess which is her mother. It is here that the story starts.
  
  I felt disconnected with this film. In the first ten minutes of the film, Maya Hayes talks about thrusting penises more than I have in the last ten years. Her character comes off as a 27 year old woman possessing the body of a ten year old girl. It didn't feel real, or honest. It felt more like the dialog that a young, childless and hip Hollywood writer would write. It felt clueless, and disconnected.
  
  Will Hayes proceeds to tell his daughter his story, which includes his interaction with many women, threesome talk, and numerous scenes filled with sexual tension. This also didn't feel real. As a parent of 2 daughters myself, I just could not fathom the purpose behind this, nor could I see myself discussing threesomes, et al, with my young daughters. It was off center, to say the least.
  
  Another flaw of the film are the many scenes filled with the political escapades of Will Hayes. They came off as forced, occasionally slipping into agenda driven. (A jab at George Bush is taken early on)
  
  Overall, my wife and I were very disappointed with this flick. I wouldn't call it a romantic comedy, simply because the comedy was forced and the romance was almost non-existent.
  
  Some might connect with this film. I don't begrudge you for watching it. I just couldn't connect with it at all.
  
  
• Smart dialogue, not so smart characters
  By A2VKJOBZEZJ2A0 on 2008-04-28
  Hearing "Definitely Maybe" billed as "the first Generation X midlife crisis movie" was almost enough for me to make a point of not seeing it. Having now seen it anyway, I'll give credit where it's due for an enjoyable story...but I was right to be suspicious about the Generation X credentials. Will has graduated from Wisconsin sometime shortly before 1992, but he doesn't know who Kurt Cobain is. He graduated first in his class, but he's apparently been hanging around Madison without a lot to do for some time. He's hired to work on the Clinton campaign in New York at a point when anybody on Clinton's payroll probably would have been sent to New Hampshire. He's surprised to discover that some people of his generation are apathetic and disinterested in politics. Five years later, Clinton's "that woman" speech somehow happens a year earlier than it really did. A decade after that, we're supposed to believe that an entire school's worth of Manhattan parents are up in arms over a sex education lesson. Do the writers even know anybody who came of age in the 90s?!
  
  For all that, the story itself is pretty engaging. "From the makers of 'Love Actually' and 'Notting Hill'..." and, like both those movies, it's sappy but clever and enjoyable in its way. Not to mention that the male lead sounds exactly like a Hugh Grant role, except that he had to be American this time around. It kept my attention for most of the ride and I was appropriately curious as to who was going to turn out to be Maya's mother. (I guessed correctly, but only through process of elimination - rather than the likeliest candidate, it was the least unlikely candidate.)
  
  It's probably not fair to expect too much depth from a romantic comedy, and as they go, this one delivers pretty well. The problem is, while I did want to see who the mystery mother was and how all four leads ended up, none of them were especially convincing. The three female leads, while also uneven, are somewhat better developed than Will. I especially liked April, the most well-rounded of the four adult characters and the only one I could bring myself to root for. Will and his other two love-interests are somewhat inconsistently drawn and almost seem destined for failure. One of the two girlfriends, for example, appears to remove herself from contention early on in a way that is utterly out of character relative to what we've seen of her so far. But that's okay, because the viewer knows Will had it coming, even if she doesn't. (Admittedly, dysfunctional relationships are the point of the movie in a way, since it's about divorce.) Kevin Kline gives the strongest performance as the movie's most major minor character, but he also had the best-developed personality to work with.
  
  The movie's big emotional twist is, at least, both convincing and beautifully executed. (Without giving away too much, I think it's safe to reveal here that I am not referring to the mother's identity.) I think the ending tarnishes that moment a bit and draws the story to a too-neatly wrapped ending...but then, it is a romantic comedy. And a pretty good one overall.
  
  
• Maybe....The Writer Fell Asleep, 2.5 Stars
  By A2NOLI10R74GTE on 2008-07-07
  Its hard not to like Ryan Reynolds. This movie was just plain ok, nothing special. There are very few funny lines. Poor Kevin Kline looks like he arose from the dead.
  
  It was worth the $1.49 rental fee, nothing more.
  
  
• "Do You Know What You Want?" ~ Love, Life Rehab And Happy Endings
  By A141HP4LYPWMSR on 2008-07-18
  The '08 release `Definitely, Maybe' is a delightful and charming tale tailor made for the boyish wit and vulnerability of Ryan Reynolds in the role of Will Hayes, the soon to be divorced Father of ten year old Maya (Abigail Breslin).Little Maya talks her Dad into sharing the story of how he met her Mother one evening and with the telling of his story the storyline unfolds.
  
  Maya soon discovers that life and romance can be a complicated matter and love can be cyclic and unpredictable. More than one woman has caught the attention of Will Hayes and since he has cleverly changed the names of the women in his confessional account May has to wait and see which one turns out to be her Mom. As she listens intently she can only hope that there will be a happy ending to look forward to.
  
  While the mere presence of Ryan Reynolds in the cast of any film is always a set in the right direction he is not the only standout in this production. The cast includes another personal favorite, Kevin Kline, along with numerous talented and attractive performers. With so talented a cast complimented by a superior script and some sharp and clever dialogue you have a can't miss evening of viewing ahead.
  
  
• Umm It could've been maybe a better story.
  By A36AH31X84FIC8 on 2008-07-28
  Umm Definitely, Maybe is a nice story, but it's only good for a rent at best not really for a purchase, while it had a cute premise it was almost ruined by the beginning of film where Ryan Reynolds plays the dad goes to pick up his daughter at school only to find they've been teaching sex ed 101 parents upset and kids are at loss, others are reciting sexual information I found that to be distasteful and kids saying the names both sexes lower body parts. I thought it was out of line I don't mind if an adult or teenager does, but kids were to young for that I think. They could've changed the sitituation by the kids learning stuff about math or english or science. But they wanted to get that PG-13 rating so they put that in there, quite irritating. Almost didn't watch the whole film because of that and that fact was it dragged in parts of the story to get the point across, all and all it was ok. but not for purchase i'm glad i only paid three bucks for this on PPV if i would've gone to the theater and paid eight i would've been tick. but i have to say that Ryan Reynolds was good as the dad in this, so was abigail breslin she was cute in this.
  
  
• A Clintonesque Rom-com?...Maybe More Than Definitely
  By A13E0ARAXI6KJW on 2008-07-30
  Coming across as a breezy cross between Tom Hanks and Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds (Just Friends) is a likeable enough presence in this 2008 romantic comedy, but he simply lacks enough gravitas to be the compelling core of this story. While he doesn't suffer from the same degree of adolescent smugness plaguing Ashton Kutcher, Reynolds - frankly too young for this role - has one of those pliable personalities that fail to leave an indelible mark on the screen, which is too bad since the role requires someone who can ground the story at the same time he can elevate those around him. Fortunately, director/writer Adam Brooks doesn't leave his leading man high and dry since he cast three solid actresses as his various love interests, as well as the omnipresent Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) as his doting daughter.
  
  The time-flipping plot revolves around a bedtime story that soon-to-be-divorced political consultant Will Hayes tells his ten-year-old daughter Maya. Unaware of her parents' lives before their marriage, Maya wants to hear about their romance with an interest in sparking memories that will hopefully make him change his mind about the divorce. Since two other women play pivotal roles in his past, Will suddenly decides to change the names of all the people in his account, thus leaving Maya to guess which one is her mother. It's a charming gimmick but a gimmick nonetheless, which gives rise to the inevitable flashbacks. Surprisingly, this is where the film exceeds my expectations as it begins with Will leaving behind college sweetheart Emily in Wisconsin to work on Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign. Brooks smartly draws parallels between the young idealist in Will and the imperfect public hero that Clinton became. In fact, this may be the first rom-com with a protagonist mirroring the emotional compromises felt during the Clinton years.
  
  But make no mistake that this is a rom-com that can't wait to introduce romantic complications. First, there is Emily's friend and former lover Summer, an ambitious journalist already in a relationship with her thesis advisor Hampton Roth, a renowned and quite arrogant author. Her affection, however, comes at a price when it becomes a conflict of interest for Will. Then there's April, an underachieving free-spirit who runs the copier at the campaign office. Timing is the chief problem connecting these two as April shows more interest in friendship initially, while Will is inevitably unavailable whenever they consider connecting. Needless to say, things sort themselves out, but Brooks provides enough plot curves to make it all reasonably enjoyable. Elizabeth Banks - the horned-up bookstore clerk in The 40-Year-Old Virgin and soon to be Laura Bush in Oliver Stone's "W" - has the smallest key role as Emily, but she handles it serviceably. Although she seems to be slumming here, Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardener) effortlessly brings her confident allure to Summer.
  
  But it's Isla Fisher - the clingy bridesmaid in Wedding Crashers - who walks away with the picture in a smart, sexy and often touching performance as April. Hers is the most developed character of the three women, and she takes full advantage. Breslin is relegated to a plot device as Maya, but she manages to overcome the bratty nature of her character. In a case of petty larceny in a youthful pool, a ham-fisted Kevin Kline steals his few scenes as Roth. The 2008 DVD offers several extras with Brooks and Reynolds offering a sometimes quite amusing commentary track. There are a couple of shorts - a disposable fluff piece called "Creating a Romance" and a much funnier featurette, "The Changing Times of Definitely, Maybe" that discusses fads and trends in the 1990's. There are also a handful of deleted scenes worth watching once to fill in a bit more context for the characters.
  
  
• Appalled
  By A2RSN9LOWT4KXJ on 2008-08-11
  I was totally shocked to find out that the frank dialogue was between the underage child and her father. To have a child that young talk that explicitly is just wrong. I say shame on Universal Studios and Abigail's parents for encouraging her to be in PG-13 movies and to be the reason for the rating. If I had known that the frank dialogue on the rating was from a child no older than mine, I would not have rented it and will get my money back from movie gallery. I think they should have to say frank dialogue from underage child. I was also suprised to only find one other review in the 15 to 20 I looked at that mentioned how much it bothered them. It was so unacceptable and not needed, It could have been a good movie without all of that sexual dialogue and promiscuity in the plot. I could not finish the movie and will no longer spend my money for Universal Studios or Abigail Breslin's family to use to make more trashy movies. Shame, shame on Universal Studios and Abigail Breslin's family.
  
  
• Fantastic!
  By ATVZW382VGH6S on 2008-08-15
  This movie is one of the better movies I have seen. My wife and I sat and watched this and commented that this was a very realistic scenario and acting was right on. It is good to see Ryan in a role that is more the type of character he should play, even though is good in everything. Isla Fisher never looked hotter! The plot kept me thinking the whole time.
  
  
• How can a movie drag so?
  By A34V33UHFAH70J on 2008-10-03
  Oh my gosh! This movie. I saw this a little bit after it came to DVD. I really have to say this movie is horrible. HORRIBLE! Ryan Reynolds is like a total playboy and doesn't know what he wants like 3/4 through the movie. Also, it is long. Too long! In the middle, it drags like nobody's business. Just alternating between the 3 ladies that he is involved with. Just choose dude!!
  
  
• DEFINITELY, YES!!
  By A3TUQ2Q0E0MUP1 on 2008-10-15
  I loved this picture! What a great movie to watch with your best friend, mom, daughter, or even husband!
  
  

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