Review: ‘Definitely, Maybe’ not typical romance film

Directed by: Adam Brooks

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Derek Luke, Kevin Kline

Rated: PG-13

Not yet 12 years old, Abigail Breslin already has an impressive résumé. She started at age 6 in M. Night Shyamalan’s “Signs,” has done TV work on shows such as “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit,” and was nominated for an Oscar for her role in the 2006 sweetly dysfunctional “Little Miss Sunshine.” Her dance at the film’s finale is the kind of scene that will be played on “best movie scenes” shows for years to come.

While Breslin’s Maya Hayes is not the main character in “Definitely, Maybe,” she is the linchpin that gives the film its impetus, and she steals every scene she’s in. The kid can work an audience.

When Maya’s dad Will (Ryan Reynolds) picks her up from school one day, he finds the place in a hubbub. He soon learns the reason: The kids have just experienced their first sex-education classes.

Maya is fairly matter-of-fact about it all but is curious about the emotional workings. She wants to know the story of how Will and her mom met and fell in love. It’s all the more important to Maya as the couple is about to finalize their divorce.

Will hedges at first but agrees to tell her the tale of the three loves of his life – with names changed to protect the innocent as well as the guilty and so as not to give away which female is Maya’s mother. He makes it a bedtime story and challenges Maya to figure out which character is her mom. Maya has ulterior motives. She hopes that when her dad recounts the courtship, his feelings will be rekindled and the marriage will be saved.

As he begins the story, the film jumps back to 1992. Will and his college girlfriend, Emily, are about to be apart for two months. The optimistic young man is going to New York City to work as a volunteer for Bill Clinton, who is making his first run for president. Emily is worried that the big city will change her boyfriend. NYC is a far cry from Madison, Wis.

Emily may be right, but in ways she hasn’t foreseen.

When Will gets to New York, he looks up Emily’s old friend, Summer (Rachel Weisz). Summer is a bit wild and having a fling with one of her college professors, an author old enough to be her dad. But she and Will hit it off.

Will gets caught in the whirlwind of the presidential campaign, starting out as the coffee/doughnut/toilet paper boy but gradually working his way up. While working at Clinton headquarters, he meets a lovely, interesting girl named April (Isla Fisher) and they hit it off rather well, too.

When Emily comes for a surprise visit, things take an unexpected turn, and Will’s life gets more and more complicated.

Throughout, the story returns briefly to the present with questions and commentary from Maya. When it cuts back to the past, it’s always a year or so later. Will and a friend have started a political consulting firm and, in addition to an increasingly confusing love life, Will gradually becomes disenchanted with the politicians he’s helped get elected. Eventually all three of the potential mothers of Maya are out of the picture. But obviously, one of them is the one.

The last act resolves the mystery and then, in an unforeseen move, takes a turn here in the present.

“Definitely, Maybe” starts out as a romantic drama, heads into romantic comedy and, in the end, becomes a touching, even misty-eyed, out-and-out romance.

As in real life, there are surprises along the way. The ensemble cast seems comfortable working together, and Breslin as Maya adds a touch of innocent sweetness to the proceedings. It’s another film that may be derided by action hounds as a “chick flick” but, as mentioned in this column before, I don’t care what genre a film is pigeonholed into – a good story and compelling characters make for good viewing.

Maybe it’s not a great film, but it is eminently watchable and plenty enjoyable. Definitely.

Jim Wunderle owns Wunderle Sound Services and is a Springfield freelance writer and musician. He can be reached at info@wunderlesound.com.