Entertainment

It’s not easy to speak openly and honestly to your kids about sex, especially not when you’re telling them about your sex life.  What?  You haven’t spent an evening with your 10 year old daughter discussing your past indiscretions? This unlikely premise is the basis of Definitely Maybe, a romantic comedy that begins with a discussion about sex education.  On the brink of divorce, Will Hayes (Ryan Reynolds) is badgered into telling the story of how he met Maya’s (Abigail Breslin) mother.  Just to keep the story interesting, and fill screen time, Will decides to make the story a mystery.  He changes the name of the women, so Maya has to guess which one is her mother.  First up to bat is Emily (Elizabeth Banks), Will’s college sweetheart. The couple seem destined to the alter until Will takes a job working on the Clinton campaign, circa 1992, in New York, and leaves his sweetie behind with a leering roommate.  In NY, Will looks up Emily’s old pal, Summer and becomes smitten. At the same time, he meets a feisty copy girl, April (Isla Fisher).  These three women move in and out of Will’s life for several years, breaking his heart and mending it.  While it seems obvious who Will chooses, the mystery actually holds up through the telling.

Reynolds is boyishly cute but rather bland. He is overshadowed by his female co-stars who play complex and intelligent women, capable of living happily without a Prince Charming.  What a nice departure from the typical needy desperation of female leads in romantic comedies.  Kevin Kline commanded attention even in his minor role as eccentric writer Hampton Roth.  Various relationships were explored: father and daughter, friend and friend, mentor and protégé, each endearing and compelling.  For me the most poignant was April’s longing for her father, as she searched through used book stores for a book he inscribed to her. It was apt for the movie, which showed love is never lost forever.