Geek vs Life

Some movies get such an advertising push that when the film fails to deliver, you feel kind of let down. “Evan Almighty,” anyone? Other movies get that push and they rightfully deserve it. Recent favorites that fit that bill include “Juno” and “No Country for Old Men.”

Then you fall into the obscure category of sweet films that slip under that radar. Films like “Definitely, Maybe.”

The plot revolves around a father in the throws of divorce (played by Ryan Reynolds), telling a story to his daughter (Abigail Breslin) on how he met her mother and fell in love. In an effort to keep things “mysterious,” he changes the his wife’s name and tells the story of the three major loves in his life as his daughter tries to figure out which one is her real mother.

The movie stars a plethora of young Hollywood stars and starlets who perform quite well in the film. Ryan Reynolds (“Waiting,” “Van Wilder,” “The Nines”) is one of the funniest under used actors in Hollywood today. He has the looks, charm and charisma to make him a star, but fails to get that “breakout” role that will make him stand out of that pack.

Isla Fisher (“Wedding Crashers,” “Confessions of a Shopaholic”), who plays April, is starting to get her due with more roles focusing on her great comedic timing. Young Abigail Breslin (“Little Miss Sunshine,” “Signs”) is too smart for her own age. But what young character has not been in recent years?

Releasing the movie on February 14 makes sense: It’s a great date movie. Note to people looking for a date movie: most romantic comedies are a hit. You’ll laugh, she will gush—it’s a win-win situation. The outcome is slightly predictable of course, but it’s getting there that matters.

The film’s themes are generic, but this isn’t meant to be a movie that will change the world. It is meant to entertain and that is pretty much what it did for me. Alas, it’s getting harder and harder these days, especially with clunkers like “Rambo” and “Meet the Spartans” littering the Cineplex.

-Originally published by the Shoreline Community College student paper, the Ebbtide-