A terminally bland, brutally overlong tale of tedious, attractive people and their banal romantic problems.
Definitely, Maybe (2008)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:138
Fresh:99
Rotten:39
Average Rating:6.5/10
Consensus: With a clever script and charismatic leads, Definitely, Maybe is a refreshing entry into the romantic comedy genre.
Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] Rated PG-13 for sexual content, including some frank dialogue, language and smoking.
Runtime: 1 hr 52 mins
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release:2008
Box Office: $31,973,840
Synopsis: Ryan Reynolds and a bevy of excellent actresses star in this smart and touching romantic comedy about a little girl trying to understand her father's complicated history with women. Will Hayes... Ryan Reynolds and a bevy of excellent actresses star in this smart and touching romantic comedy about a little girl trying to understand her father's complicated history with women. Will Hayes (Reynolds) is in the midst of a divorce, and his 11-year-old daughter Maya (Abigail Breslin) wants to understand what went wrong with her parents' relationship. She begs her father to tell her the entire story of how he met her mother. Will begrudgingly agrees, but changes the names of everyone involved, leaving it up to Maya to decipher who in the story is her mother. Thus Will begins his tale, weaving a romantic and amusing maze of missed connections and bad timing with the likes of three beautiful women: Summer (Rachel Weisz), April (Isla Fisher), and Emily (Elizabeth Banks). Will bounces from relationship to relationship, misunderstandings and confusion thwarting him every step of the way. Who will he end up with? Which woman is ultimately right for him? The film keeps Maya and the viewer guessing right until the very end, with a bittersweet but ultimately triumphant surprise twist tying it all together. Reynolds has long outgrown his VAN WILDER days, and does an excellent job of holding his own with the talented Fisher, Weisz, and Banks. The film is certainly a stand-out from the current crop of romantic comedies, in that the women are intelligent, well-drawn characters, and the relationships are painted with a funny, but realistic eye. And blessedly, it doesn't end with the standard blowout wedding that has become the hallmark of such films. DEFINITELY, MAYBE is a smart and sexy take on the complexities of love, and still manages to be kid friendly, while sending a very positive, honest message to children of divorce. [More]
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Isla Fisher, Derek Luke, Abigail Breslin
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Isla Fisher, Derek Luke, Abigail Breslin, Rachel Weisz, Elizabeth Banks, Kevin Kline
Director: Adam Brooks
Director: Adam Brooks
Screenwriter: Adam Brooks
Producer: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner
Composer: Clint Mansell
Studio: Universal Pictures
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Reviews for Definitely, Maybe
A diamond in the rough that could use some polishing but overall sparkles with warmth and wit.
A film that at once embraces formula and, in critical scenes, dismisses it all together.
More how Harry met Sally than when, the above average Definitely, Maybe may not be destined to be a great comedy classic, but this valentine earns every sweet and believable moment.
Will Hayes' only flaw is that he's too idealistic--in the same way that John Edwards cares too much for poor people.
Definitely, Maybe, which was written and directed by Adam Brooks, has charm and spirit.
Smart, sophisticated and charming, 'Definitely, Maybe' is wonderful dramedy about the choices we make about love.
Definitely, Maybe has the 'meet cute,' but it also has all the things that can come after -- the awkward moments, the scary possibility of hope, the comforts of sadness, the tough talks, the ugly partings, the hard-won reconciliations.
A nice, entertaining little movie -- something we see far too few of at this time of year.
[Definitely, Maybe has] a largess of characters and themes and a genuine desire to explore them, good intentions that earn the film a grudging pass.
By trading in metaphor and parallel structure, makes a compelling allegorical statement about just how stuck in a rut we collectively feel our nation is.
Definitely, Maybe stumbles along the way to its destination just like its protagonist does, but the humor and heart compensate for the lack of sure footing that extends all the way to the uncertainty in the title.
A 'Who's Your Mama?' melodrama unfolding for the benefit of a suddenly-spousified 11 year-old.
If you're looking for a movie that isn't just the same old, same old, "Definitely, Maybe" is definitely the movie for you.
Latest News for Definitely, Maybe
August 15, 2008:
SpanishTeaching.co.uk: A bittersweet bedtime story about at least three babes who broke a guy's heart during his hard knocks, early adult years, in addition to, well, Bill Clinton. ![]()
More...
June 23, 2008:
RT on DVD: A Killer Sopranos Set; WALL-E Gets a Friend
You thought the Sex and the City DVD collection was expensive? Start saving up for the ultimate Sopranos box set, coming this fall. Also look for a DVD spin-off from last... More...
June 18, 2008:
A bittersweet bedtime story about at least three babes who broke a guy's heart during his hard knocks, early adult years, in addition to, well, Bill Clinton. ![]()
More...
March 06, 2008:
Joan Cusack, John Goodman to Hear Isla Fisher's Confessions
It hasn't even been a month since Isla Fisher dazzled Ryan Reynolds in the Valentine's dramedy Definitely, Maybe, but she's already at work on her next film -- and she's got... More...
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 66% 66% | Public Enemies |
| 83% 83% | Harry Potter and the H… |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 75% 75% | Julie & Julia |
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 88% 88% | Inglourious Basterds |
| 78% 78% | The Hangover |
| 49% 49% | Taking Woodstock |
| 26% 26% | The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard |
| 47% 47% | The Girl From Monaco |
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