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IMDbPro

Paper Man

  • 2009
  • R
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
20K
YOUR RATING
Jeff Daniels and Ryan Reynolds in Paper Man (2009)
A coming-of-middle-age comedy that chronicles the unlikely friendship between failed author Richard Dunne and a Long Island teen who teaches him a thing or two about growing up, all under the disapproving eye of his long-suffering wife and his imaginary superhero friend.
Play trailer2:28
6 Videos
61 Photos
ComedyDrama

A washed-up writer forms an unlikely friendship with a teenager from Long Island.A washed-up writer forms an unlikely friendship with a teenager from Long Island.A washed-up writer forms an unlikely friendship with a teenager from Long Island.

  • Directors
    • Kieran Mulroney
    • Michele Mulroney
  • Writers
    • Michele Mulroney
    • Kieran Mulroney
  • Stars
    • Jeff Daniels
    • Emma Stone
    • Ryan Reynolds
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    20K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Kieran Mulroney
      • Michele Mulroney
    • Writers
      • Michele Mulroney
      • Kieran Mulroney
    • Stars
      • Jeff Daniels
      • Emma Stone
      • Ryan Reynolds
    • 79User reviews
    • 62Critic reviews
    • 37Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Videos6

    Paper Man
    Trailer 2:28
    Watch Paper Man
    Paper Man
    Trailer 7:35
    Watch Paper Man
    Paper Man: Clip 2
    Clip 0:45
    Watch Paper Man: Clip 2
    Paper Man: Clip 4
    Clip 2:22
    Watch Paper Man: Clip 4
    Paper Man: Clip 1
    Clip 0:50
    Watch Paper Man: Clip 1
    Paper Man: Clip 3
    Clip 1:09
    Watch Paper Man: Clip 3

    Photos61

    Emma Stone in Paper Man (2009)
    Ryan Reynolds in Paper Man (2009)
    Jeff Daniels and Ryan Reynolds in Paper Man (2009)
    Jeff Daniels and Lisa Kudrow in Paper Man (2009)
    James Frawley at an event for Paper Man (2009)
    Christian Slater at an event for Paper Man (2009)
    Christian Slater at an event for Paper Man (2009)
    Dermot Mulroney and Tharita Catullé at an event for Paper Man (2009)
    Diedrich Bader at an event for Paper Man (2009)
    James Kyson at an event for Paper Man (2009)
    Robert Downey Jr. at an event for Paper Man (2009)
    Robert Downey Jr. at an event for Paper Man (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jeff Daniels
    Jeff Daniels
    • Richard Dunn
    Emma Stone
    Emma Stone
    • Abby
    Ryan Reynolds
    Ryan Reynolds
    • Captain Excellent
    Lisa Kudrow
    Lisa Kudrow
    • Claire Dunn
    Kieran Culkin
    Kieran Culkin
    • Christopher
    Hunter Parrish
    Hunter Parrish
    • Bryce
    Eric Gilliland
    • UPS Guy
    Louis Rosario
    • Bryce's Posse
    Conrad Wolfe
    • Bryce's Posse
    Arabella Field
    Arabella Field
    • Lucy
    Chris Parnell
    Chris Parnell
    • Peter
    Brian T. Finney
    Brian T. Finney
    • Mike
    Brian Patrick Russell
    Brian Patrick Russell
    • Dave
    • (as Brian Russell)
    Jill Shackner
    • Sophomore Girl
    Violet O'Neill
    • Makeout Girl
    Michael Heintzman
    • Park Ranger
    • Directors
      • Kieran Mulroney
      • Michele Mulroney
    • Writers
      • Michele Mulroney
      • Kieran Mulroney
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Second film that Emma Stone and Lisa Kudrow appear in together; the other is Easy A (2010).
    • Goofs
      Claire closes the car window after Abby approaches her. In the next shot when she drives away, you can see the window half open (1:33:00).
    • Quotes

      [Abby is reading Richard's last letter]

      Richard Dunn: Richard regarded his solitude as something sacred as a well earned badge of honor, a cloak to be worn to ward off life. As his safety. Solitude is who he was. This caused those in his life to view him with a barely veiled contempt. Richard was certain that he was not liked, which is hard on a man. *Maybe* it was because he gave nothing that he received nothing in return. In any case, his situation had become intolerable. The closest things he had to friends were either imaginary or extinct. And Richard had reached a point in his life where this was no longer enough. And then he met a girl... And she was warm. And she was sad. And she was maybe lonely in a way that reminded him of himself. She'd lost things that a girl should never have lost. And she knew things. And she taught him. And Richard thought: "Maybe this is what friendship feels like. Maybe." It was just a glimpse, they'd barely begun, really. But in those long, few winter days, she'd given him so much. Enough so that Richard could go on. And what had he given her? Just a few words on a page. Not much, perhaps. But for Abby, he hoped it was enough.

    • Crazy credits
      Captain Excellent makes a final appearance as the end credits begin.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Kick-Ass/Death at a Funeral/The Joneses (2010)
    • Soundtracks
      Bluebird of Happiness
      Written by Neil Halstead & Ian McCutcheon

      Performed by Mojave 3

      Courtesy of 4AD LTD.

    User reviews79

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    When the world is in peril, When Evil surrounds you ...
    No matter your sex or what is your age difference, when you find a friend, if it is sincere, you have found one.

    A one you can cherish, take care of, and don't listen to others prohibiting you of, because of rules and rules.

    Hat's off to Writers, Directors, Jeff Daniels and Emma Stone. Emma, please give your DNA to a sort of preservation bank, perhaps we or our kids get a chance of having your clone as a friend or more if it worked out ;)

    A small movie like this, playing with your imagination, emotions and feelings, up to this level? This must be either a proof to talents or something just ran off the normal Hollywood's crap line of production accidentally! /s

    Want to witness real talent, feeling yourself in their place? Then this is your chance to appreciate a rare feel good movie, so real, you think you are Richard Dunn. (obviously I'm a male!)

    I'm still looking back at the cupboard waiting the fantastic Ryan Reynolds as Captain Excellent to jump out of it!

    I wish one day I could find a friend like Abby, giving some sense to my life.

    Thank you for such a movie. These are the ones we support with our pockets not those 200 Gazillion Dollar ones targeted only for money and as empty as the popcorn box or the cola bottle at the end.

    Open a bottle of wine, and taste this movie with, preferably a Friend.

    Cheers!
    helpful•64
    15
    • RainbowCastel
    • Aug 28, 2010

    Top picks

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 1, 2014 (South Korea)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Unlikely Hero
    • Filming locations
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Artfire Films
      • Entertainment 360
      • FilmColony
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $13,514
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $8,613
      • Apr 25, 2010
    • Gross worldwide
      • $13,514
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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