Paper Man

I just finished watching Paper Man.  The disc is still warm, and the urge to tell others about this told me to open my computer and write.

This movie is amazing.  It stars Jeff Daniels, Emma Stone, Lisa Kudrow, and my favorite actor- Ryan Reynolds.  Fun Fact- Reynolds has been acting for 18 years, with something releasing every year.  Now you have something to talk about at parties.  You're welcome.

This movie was a directoral debut from Kieran Mulroney and Michele Mulroney, who also wrote the film.  They did a magnificent job on all counts.

I knew nothing of this movie when I added it to my Netflix queue, except it had Ryan Reynolds in it, and that I love his acting in movies not Van Wilder-esque.  I played it, and saw 'comedy style' previews, and assumed it was an indie-comedy.  That made me excited, because I wasn't in the mood for an extremely dark movie like other movies I hold at the top of my favorite movies lists, like Reynold's 'The Nines'.

What I found was a mixture of tragedy and comedy.  It made me understand why the Greeks called sad plays 'comedies'.  This was entertaining, engaging, and emotional.

Don't trust Rottentomatoes, which gave the movie 29%.  Yes, the movie is slow, but most indie movies are.

The story is simple: a writer named Richard goes to Montauk to write his second novel.  He 'brings with him' his imaginary friend from his childhood- Captain Excellent.  His first novel tanked, and he has one of the largest cases of writer's block I've ever seen.  While he is there, he meets Abby.  Richard befriends Abby, even though Captain Excellent tells him repeatedly is it a bad idea.  His wife, a successful surgeon, and he are drifting apart, and he is in search of a true friend.  This is the story of his second novel, friendship, and letting go.

I highly recommend Paper Man.  It is rated R, for language- although language is never just tossed around like they are making a remake of Garden State.  So don't let your children watch it, but I honestly doubt they'd want to.

I have been known to really enjoy films that most didn't.  Almost as if I expected it, I found many people didn't like this film.  In their words, it was too 'indie-cliche'.  I did not think so.  I have yet to see a movie with a superhero imaginary friend.  So don't take their word for it- and don't take mine- see Paper Man for yourself and decide who you agree with.