Absolutely 'Definitely, Maybe'

The photo shows a movie director's clapboard at nine o'clock, and a serving of popcorn in a red and white bucket at eight o'clock, all against a white background, with a sign that reads "MOVIE TIME" in red letters across the top;"with" in yellow near the middle; and "Jon Ochiai" in red from the center out to three o'clock. Altogether: "Movie Time with Jon Ochiai." At four o'clock, there are five golden colored stars under the name, and at six o'clock, two golden colored movie tickets that read Admit One. Jon Ochiai is the author of the movie review associated with this branded image.

The intriguing premise in “Definitely, Maybe” surrounds Ryan Reynolds’s Will Hayes recounting the story to his 11-year-old daughter Maya (Abigail Breslin) about how he met her Mom. Will’s divorce is impending, and Maya wants to know how he and her Mom hooked up. The jaded Maya proclaims, “I know that love is not a fairytale.” So Will tells the story of the three significant women he was involved, changing their names and some of the details. The catch: Maya has to determine who her Mom is. However, the underlying and life-altering mystery is not who Will married, rather who was his true love. This unexpected twist is a touching surprise in Director and Writer Adam Brooks’ “Definitely, Maybe”. Amazingly “Definitely, Maybe” resonates of family, love, and the cost of selling out on being happy. Arguably some of Brooks’ funny story threads are contrived, but ultimately it is about seeing and believing in the best in the people we love. In a heart felt moment Will tells Maya, “I forgot to tell you the happy ending to the storyYou.” Beneath it all, “Definitely, Maybe” is about the things that really matter in life.

As Will’s story begins, it is 1992 and University of Wisconsin graduate Will is heading to New York to work at the Bill Clinton Campaign Headquarters. He leaves behind his loyal and loving college sweetheart Emily (beautiful and smart Elizabeth Banks). He promises Emily that they shall remain together. Emily gives Will a present for her college friend Summer Hartley, who now lives in New York City. Idealist Will is initially disillusioned by his role in the Clinton Campaignone of his duties is “Toilet Paper Guy”. He meets “Copier Girl” April (sexy and spunky Isla Fisher) and it is an annoyance at first sight. Okay, this is predictable. Meanwhile, Will discovers that Emily’s gift for Summer is a diary. This provides Will shocking insight into the apparently demure Emily. Will delivers the diary to Summer, who is living with her thesis adviser, the egomaniac author Hampton Roth (hilarious Kevin Kline). Summer, an aspiring journalist, is brilliant and gorgeous, and immediately smolders for Will.

Adam Brooks provides brilliant context here. At the time of the Clinton Campaign in 1992, there was rekindled excitement and idealism with the promise of change. This too, mirrors Will’s life and loves. Following the victorious campaign and Presidency, this idealism too begins to tarnish reflected in the scandals of the Clinton Presidency. Relationships flourish and perish, and it is really no one’s fault: Life just happens. There is an amazing scene where drunk Will confesses to April (Fisher), “I really like you” That profoundly wounds Aprilnot what she yearned to hear.

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Ryan Reynolds is great. Reynolds is charming, handsome, and funny. What really works in “Definitely, Maybe” is his vulnerability and humanity. Reynolds is just a good and decent guy– who Will really is. His natural chemistry with Abigail Breslin, who plays his daughter Maya, is the heart and soul of the movie. Breslin brings a fresh authenticity and awareness to the precocious Maya. In another great scene her Maya tells Will, “I just want you to be happy” The three women in Will’s life are all very strong. Elizabeth Banks as Emily has a wonderful spirit and grace. Rachel Weisz as Summer embodies a touching vulnerability under her cynical smarts. Isla Fisher is the amazing vaporous spirit, who possesses a pure soul.

“Definitely, Maybe” is not entirely what you would expect. Rightit is contrived and somewhat predictable. However, it has an authenticity for relationships and family. Mostly “Definitely, Maybe” is about finding true love. From that perspective, we can all applaud “Definitely, Maybe”.