(Originally written on February 14, 2019)
Since it’s Valentine’s Day, I thought it would be appropriate to briefly talk about one of my favourite romantic-comedy-drama films I’ll never get tired of, Definitely, Maybe.
Released in 2008, the movie is about Will Hayes (Ryan Reynolds) who, though about to be divorced, is asked by his daughter Maya (Abigail Breslin) to tell the story of how he and her mother met. He agrees and tells a story about three women he encounters at different points in his life, letting Maya (and the audience) figure out who her actual mother is.
One of the biggest reasons why I enjoy this movie is because of how it depicts relationships. They’re complicated, won’t always be perfect, and at times can be downright frustrating either due to growing apart or bad timing (something the film doesn’t shy away from, which I appreciate). However! It’s not a depressing nor an outright sad movie. Just one that shows (in my opinion) a more realistic take on seemingly romantic relationships.
Other reasons why I enjoy the movie include the great performances from all the actors, the sprinkled humour, and how the flashbacks were set in the 90’s (with things like early cell phones and the presidential race at the time). The interactions between characters are pretty good, seeing New York is great and the musical score is nice. The moments where Maya chimes in during certain points of the story are also charming.
So these were just some of my brief thoughts, but if you’re looking for something light and thoughtful, why not rent and watch Definitely, Maybe?
- A. Shin
