Chaos Theory (2008)

The story of an obsessively organized efficiency expert whose life unravels in unexpected ways when fate forces him to explore the serendipitous nature of love and forgiveness.

Director:

Marcos Siega

Writer:

Daniel Taplitz

Stars:

Ryan Reynolds, Emily Mortimer, Stuart Townsend

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ryan Reynolds	...	Frank Allen
Emily Mortimer	...	Susan
Stuart Townsend	...	Buddy Endrow
Sarah Chalke	...	Paula Crowe
Mike Erwin	...	Ed
Constance Zimmer	...	Peg the Teacher
Matreya Fedor	...	Jesse Allen (7 years)
Elisabeth Harnois	...	Jesse Allen
Chris William Martin	...	Damon
Jovanna Huguet	...	Maid of Honor
Christopher Jacot	...	Best Man
Alessandro Juliani	...	Ken
Lisa Calder	...	Sherri
Ty Olsson	...	Evil Ferryman
Jocelyne Loewen	...	Pregnant Nancy

Storyline

At his daughter's wedding, time-management specialist Frank Allen corners the reluctant groom and tells him a long story: about the night his wife chose him, and then, about eight years later, when a missed ferry, a corporate groupie, a panicked expectant mother, and a medical test brought Frank's marriage to a crisis. In the midst of the crisis were Frank, his wife Susan, their daughter Jesse, and Frank's best friend, the feckless Buddy. Things come to a head at a lake when Frank, armed with a shotgun, decides to cross something permanently from one of his time-management lists. Is there ever room for whim and chaos?

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Plot Keywords:

list | best friend | medical test | ferry | shotgun | 

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Taglines:

He planned his life like clockwork. Now things are going cuckoo.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, sexual content and language

Details

Official Sites:

Warner bros. [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 October 2008 (Russia)

Also Known As:

A Teoria do Caos

Filming Locations:

Squamish, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$23,880 (USA) (11 April 2008)

Gross:

$237,958 (USA) (18 April 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Castle Rock Entertainment, Lone Star Film Group, Land Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ryan Reynolds plays Elizabeth Harnois's father despite being less than three years older than her (945 days to be specific). Emily Mortimer, who plays Elizabeth Harnois's mother, is less than eight years older than her in real life.

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Goofs

At the very end, when Frank is talking to Ed right before the ceremony, Frank's hair is very gray. When they walk down the aisle, Frank's hair is very brown, not much hint of gray.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Jesse Allen: [to Maid of Honor, while wearing wedding dress] Give it to me straight: virginal bride or slut in white?

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Episode dated 12 April 2008 (2008)

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Soundtracks

"Better Things"
Written by Ray Davies
Performed by The Kinks
Courtesy of Koch Entertainment
By Arrangement with Sugaroo!

User Reviews

generally charming comedy

Spontaneity is not a highly esteemed commodity in Frank Allen's catalogue of virtues. An efficiency trainer by avocation, Frank is a man whose own life is organized entirely around to-do lists, time charts and abstrusely calculated probabilities. Then, one day Frank becomes a victim of circumstances so utterly beyond his control that he is forced to abandon his old way of thinking and adopt a new philosophy of life altogether, that of throwing caution to the wind and letting his every mercurial whim determine the course of his actions (he shuffles index cards to determine what it is he should do next).

"Chaos Theory," a small but insightful movie written by Daniel Taplitz and directed by Marcos Siega, boasts a cleverly addled storyline, some sharp, witty dialogue and energetic performances by Reynolds, Emily Mortimer and Stuart Townsend, the latter two as Frank's wife and best friend, respectively. The plot complications get pretty hot and heavy at times but, as with all good comedy, things have a way of straightening themselves out in the end.

Though there may be a few too many musical montage sequences in the movie for my taste - they always seem to be used as shortcuts to get the heart soaring or the tear ducts flowing - the movie has a fluidity and charm that raise it above any possible shortcomings. Moreover, the Pacific Northwest setting provides a scenic backdrop for all the amusing shenanigans taking place on center stage.