DEFINITELY, MAYBE - Fun & Witty Treat

DEFINITELY, MAYBE (romantic comedy)

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Derek Luke and Kevin Kline

Writer-Director: Adam Brooks

Time: 110 mins

Rating: * * * (out of 4)

(Pic: Abigail Breslin and Ryan Reynolds)

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? One thing we can be sure of is that Little Miss Sunshine Abigail Breslin would Definitely have you eating out of her hand. And as for lead star Ryan Reynolds, well, Maybe you will grow to like him as the movie progresses.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Primary school pupil Maya (Abigail Breslin) is having a tough time coming to terms with her parents' pending divorce. Convinced she needs to get to the bottom of their crumbling relationship, Maya asks her father, Will Hayes (Ryan Reynolds), to tell her the story of how he and her mother met. "It's complicated," he says, trying to avoid the 'bedtime story'. However, he is not exaggerating. Will's love story has more levels than a New York skyscraper but there's emotional depth and touches of comedy in each level.

As Will recalls his old flames (under disguised names), Maya tries to guess which one is her mother: Is she Emily (Elizabeth Banks), Will's college sweetheart whom he leaves her behind in Wisconsin in 1992 so he can go to New York and work for Bill Clinton's campaign? Is she Summer (Rachel Weisz), Emily's friend who is also having an affair with her thesis advisor (Kevin Kline), or campaign co-worker April (Isla Fisher), who doesn't think much of marriage but makes a big deal of friendship?

HITS & MISSES: Like Maya, we will also be kept guessing as to which of the three women would turn out to be Maya's mom. This may be fun as we join cute little Breslin in ticking up the similarities. However, what I definitely like about Adam Brooks' work is his attention to detail in the Nineties' sets, locations and especially the music. The characters are likeable, witty and definitely fun to watch. Well, Reynolds' brand of comedy may take a bit of getting used to, especially for those who are not familiar with his TV roles (like Van Wilder) but he is passable here.

The scene-stealers are of course, Breslin as the little girl who is shocked that Daddy smoked and behaved like 'what's the boy word for slut?', and Kevin Kline as a tutor who goes after his students. Die-hard romantics would definitely like the ending which helps to tie up all the loose ends to give them the warm fuzzy feeling.

THE LOWDOWN: Just like 'Feast Of Love' (reviewed below), it is a great date movie that will definitely provide a few laughs.