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Paper Man (2009)

tomatometer

25

Average Rating: 4.2/10
Critic Reviews: 12
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 9

No consensus yet.

audience

50

liked it
Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 2,272

My Rating

Movie Info

Jeff Daniels, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, and Lisa Kudrow headline co-writer/directors Michele and Kieran Mulroney's affectionate comedy drama detailing the unlikely friendship between a failed writer (Daniels) and the Long Island high school girl (Stone) who teaches him what it really means to take responsibility in life. Meanwhile, the author's long-suffering wife casts a disapproving gaze, and an imaginary superhero weighs in with his own take on the unusual bond. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

R, 1 hr. 50 min.

Drama, Comedy

,

Michele Mulroney, Kieran Mulroney

Jan 18, 2011

MPI Media Group

Cast

All Critics (28) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (8) | Rotten (20) | DVD (4)

Aided by subtly wounded performances by Daniels and Stone, and a surprisingly affecting comic turn from Reynolds, Paper Man makes up for many of its shortcomings with an abundance of heart.

July 18, 2010 Full Review Source: NPR | Comment
NPR
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The manipulations characters act out with each other are realistic, even if the overlong and not-nearly-twee-enough comedy built around them isn't, making for a movie whose script may have had more merit than its execution. Or not.

June 30, 2010 Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | Comment
Orlando Sentinel
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A big Twinkie stuffed with indie-film cliches and glazed with chiming emo guitars.

May 28, 2010 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

What we have in this film is a whole lot of nothing, and the little that's there is irritating.

May 20, 2010 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | Comment
San Francisco Chronicle
Top Critic IconTop Critic

We don't even get a real sense of what kind of writer Richard is, or even if he's any good. It does make a difference, after all, if the novel he can't write is worth writing. A bigger question: Was "Paper Man" worth making?

May 7, 2010 Full Review Source: Christian Science Monitor | Comment
Christian Science Monitor
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Ignore the story of Paper Heart ... Concentrate instead on the delightful performances.

April 28, 2010 Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | Comments (2)
Entertainment Weekly
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A flimsy character study...as ephemeral and forgettable as a sheet of paper carried off by a gust of wind.

May 5, 2010 Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion | Comment
One Guy's Opinion

We're subjected to so much arbitrary quirkiness that the characters' big breakthroughs and breakdowns ring false, accidentally making for some of the film's biggest laughs.

April 25, 2010 Full Review Source: Cinematical | Comment (1)
Cinematical

It's tough to watch such a glum progression through the familiar, with bits of quirk dissected and bandied about.

April 24, 2010 Full Review Source: Film School Rejects | Comment
Film School Rejects

Jeff Daniels' issues are self-indulgent. But to him, his writer's block and insubstantial life are epic, and the film sides with him more often than not.

April 23, 2010 Full Review Source: I.E. Weekly | Comment (1)
I.E. Weekly

Too introverted and gimmicky for its own good.

April 23, 2010 Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | Comment
Boxoffice Magazine

Are we supposed to look upon a guy who comes on to young girls and plies kids with alcohol as some sort of blithe free spirit?

April 23, 2010 Full Review Source: MTV | Comments (3)

Emma Stone gives a tour de force over fine performances by Daniels, Kudrow, and Reynolds.

April 22, 2010 Full Review Source: tonymedley.com | Comment

Love, Long Island style!

April 22, 2010 Full Review Source: Sly Fox | Comment
Sly Fox
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Paper Man

I was looking forward to seeing this movie, but I was rather disappointed. For whatever reason, the last half hour of this movie was much more enthralling than the rest of the film. A quirky indie film that could have used a little more quirk, or substance, or something that I can't quite put my finger on. Randomly

February 4, 2012
itsjustme2004

Super Reviewer

People and critics seemed to not like this movie, but I have had it on repeat for weeks now. I am head over heels in love with the cast and the direction. It is such a great movie. The music is also so top notch that I had to individually search out as many of the songs as I could and purchase them. A favorite at

October 6, 2011
dreamfaeries

Super Reviewer

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