DVD Reviews

Definitely Maybe

When you invest your time in romantic comedies, you are pretty much aware that what you are going to get might be the same old formula all over again.  Guy meets girl, a relationship then follows, a crisis emerges that tests it, and by the end they live happily ever after.  In the case of Definitely, Maybe the formula is intentionally different, putting a new spin on the genre by creating a “romantic whodunit” (coined by Ryan Reynolds in the commentary).  A newly divorced father named Will (Reynolds) tells a story to his young daughter (Little Miss Sunshine’s Abigail Breslin), of how he met and married her mother.  To make it interesting, he changes names, and facts so that his daughter has to figure out which of the three serious relationships he had, became the one he ultimately wed.  The story revolves around his college sweetheart (Spider-Man’s Elizabeth Banks), his best friend (Wedding Crasher’s Isla Fisher), and a professional political journalist (The Mummy’s Rachel Weisz)

 The experience of Definitely, Maybe is unique because of the story structure, but it ultimately doesn’t feel much different in tone than a normal romantic comedy.  Even though it produces some different results and expectations, it also does not let go of old ones either.  The strength of the film lies with Reynolds, and his chemistry with Breslin, who together create a very moving bond between a father and his daughter, in light of a tough divorce.  Even Kevin Kline (A Fish Called Wanda) shows up uncredited as an amusing character connected to Rachel Weisz! 

This standard DVD edition has fairly good picture quality, and decent sound (which really comes to life in the film’s song soundtrack).  There is not much supplemental material supporting the feature film on this single disc, but there are a couple of features worth mentioning.  Ryan Reynolds is normally a superstar when it comes to audio commentaries, with his sarcastic wit, and funny personality.  However, even though he is still amusing in spots, the effort he gives here with Director Adam Brooks sounds disinterested.  It comes off as if they are forced to do the job and really don’t want to.  The rest of the features are very brief in runtime, some quick deleted scenes, a making-of segment which is mostly interviews, and a timeline look at the movie through various sets and appearances.  You can roll through them rather quickly.

Ultimately, Definitely, Maybe isn’t a half-bad romantic comedy because it makes an effort to be something fresh.  Without Breslin and Reynolds’ performances serving as the backbone of the tale, this one could have easily falled away into typical obscurity.  Instead, a serves as a romantic comedy infused with some mature ideas.

Review By Ryan Young