Definitely, Maybe

By Jason Tozer     

Director: Adam Brooks Screenplay: Adam Brooks Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Rachel Weisz, Kevin Kline, Abigail Breslin, Elizabeth Banks, Isla Fisher Rated: PG Running Time: 112 mins

hit a plateau in all areas except his relationship with his daughter.

He is apathetic about his job, divorcing his wife and regretful over his life decisions. However, there is one thing he looks forward to – spending time with his daughter Maya (Abigail Breslin).

Trying to work out why her parents are divorcing, Maya coaxes her Will to tell her the story of how he and her mother fell in love.
From here we are taken through Will’s early post college life and his three romantic interests around that time.

However, Will changes the names of the girls and leaves us and Maya, to try and determine which of the three women ends up being her mother.

While it might fail to truly inspire, Adam Brooks' film more than maintains you interest

First time director Richard Roxburgh has done brilliantly using his more creative shots to further the narrative or communicate the thoughts and feelings of the characters. He has a stunning backdrop to work with and highlights the bittersweet nature of the Victorian countryside.

It is a fairly novel way to write a romantic comedy and works for the best part of the film but comes a bit undone when Will and Maya move from being a framing device.

Despite admirable performances from Reynolds, Breslin and Isla Fisher, Definitely, Maybe is never going to be one of those romantic comedies that just roll off the tongue like Sleepless in Seattle, Love, Actually or When Harry Met Sally.

Does that matter? Not at all as writer director Adam Brooks has produced a film that, while it might fail to truly inspire, more than maintains you interest, keeps you smiling and laughing and is perfect for wasting away a couple of hours with someone special.

This is one of the best films you will see this year, and definitely one of the best Australian films you will ever see. It is emotional and thought provoking but more than that it will stay with you like your very own memory. In limited release, Romulus, My Father is worth making the effort to see.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

This review first appeared in the Queanbeyan Age

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