by Karyn L. Beach

As I walked out of the theater after watching Definitely Maybe, I asked myself what I always ask, “Would I recommend this movie?” The answer, definitely maybe.

It all started in 1992 for Will Hayes (Ryan Reynolds). He’s recounting the story of how he met the mother of his young daughter Maya (Abigail Breslin). The recently divorced father tells the story that involves three different women. It’s up to Maya to figure out which woman eventually became her mother. First there is the college sweetheart, Emily (Elizabeth Banks), who reluctantly watches the idealistic Will go off to New York to work for the Clinton campaign. Once in New York, he meets a friend of Emily’s, a writer called Summer (Rachel Weisz). Finally, there is the free-spirited April who works in the campaign office but has no interest in politics. Over the course of several years, each woman goes in and out of Will’s life.

It seems that every relationship or romantic film is automatically lumped into the ‘romantic comedy’ category. This is not a romantic comedy. There are a few light moments and it definitely isn’t a drama but it’s no comedy either.

Having said that, the pacing of the movie could have been a little brisker, it sort of just plods along. The principals from Reynolds to Breslin to all three women are all engaging. Writer/Director Adam Brooks did a credible job of making Will a likeable guy and making all three women possible candidates. You can see why the women would fall for Will and you can see why he might have fallen for each of them.

Setting it in the long ago 90’s worked to a point. We see a little too much of Bill Clinton. I see what Brooks was going for. The idealism that was the Clinton campaign in 1992 gave way to disillusionment years later with the Lewinski .Will’s life is supposed to be making a similar parallel. But it was a little too obvious.

For me, it is a definite maybe. It gets points on being more original than the usual meet-cute chick flick but at the same time, it’s very light-weight and forgettable. Maybe rent it.