Upbeat rom-com grounded in solid work by Ryan Reynolds and Emily Mortimer tells a meaningful story while still staying in-bounds with the PG-13 rating. Unusual Western Canada seacoast photography and upbeat soundtrack make for an entertaining film
After Ryan Reynolds finished his work as lead in “The Nines,” in 2007 he might have had an inkling that straight science fiction is not the way to the hearts and minds of the film-going public at large. So he upped the voltage on the sex appeal and toned down the accent on the mutant-genius super-nerd. In this fast paced new rom-com, Reynolds plays Frank Allen, a man who is more obsessed than he is gifted. But that turns out to be OK.
In fact, Frank is an old-fashioned nerd not too far removed from Fred Mac Murray, the absent minded professor. But instead of the anti-sex of the professor, he is Mac Murray, the seething pot of molten funk in “Double Indemnity,” taken for a fool of love by his beautiful and sensual seductress. Sort of.
The seductress is his wife Susan, played by Emily Mortimer (“Lovely & Amazing”---2001, “Dear Frankie”---2004). Susan is the girl next door with the body that just won’t quit. She is vulnerable and licentious at the same time, although except for one little mistake she has held the latter in check. Stuart Townsend plays Buddy Endrow, best buddy to both Frank and Susan. Not such a clever name but honesty is the best policy and this is an honest film. All three of the adults are suckers for the smiles of seven year old daughter Jesse (Matreya Fedor).
Director Marcos Siega (nominated for the Sundance Grand Jury prize for “Pretty Persuasion” in 2005) keeps the child in the background and restricts her lines to two or three precisely chosen, if totally predictable, comments, allowing the adults to do the heavy lifting. The result is a success. The adults come through, for a change.
The story is told almost completely in flashback, which imbues the film with a sort of dreamy, “If I had it all to do over again…” nostalgia. This also comforts the viewers by reassuring them that no matter what happens during the body of the film, at least the lead will still be alive. Unfortunately, the flashback dreaminess also softens the story and takes most of the edge out of the drama. One has to wonder why screenwriter Taplitz’ did it as a flashback. Why not just tell the story straight and eliminate the relatively insignificant scenes at the beginning and end? It would have tightened the film considerably, but maybe the point was to leave it with a more relaxed, open feeling.
The peppy plot keeps this film going when others like it slow down. His dialog combines formulaic rom-com vocabulary with lines that actually say something about the human emotion of love. This is one of the more heart-felt romantic comedies out there, with the lush evergreens and misty ferries of Vancouver, BC providing a cozy and tight-fitting backdrop for cozy and close-knit people.
Ramsey Nickell’s cinematography is nothing fancy, but it gets the job done and tells the story without pandering to too many tourist shots of the magnificent scenery of coastal British Columbia. In fact, the entire coastal region is a well-hidden goldmine of atmospheric scenery reminiscent of the Hanks/Ryan dream rom-com “Sleepless in Seattle” and the Jack Nicholson drama “Five Easy Pieces.” It is odd that the area isn’t used more; the most probable reason being the technical issues raised by unending drizzle (sorry, BC).
Original music by Gilad Benamram and a sound track including E.L.O. and similar poppy sounds match the upbeat tone of the film, even when the going gets rough and the potentials (not taken seriously) of adultery, murder and broken kitchen utensils rear their ugly heads.
The PG-13 rating is right on; entirely appropriate viewing for the family and safe enough for the teens at the weekend multiplex.
Release: April 11, 2008
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