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Paper Man

  • 20092009
  • RR
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
19K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
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
2 Videos
45 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
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.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
19K
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Kieran Mulroney
    • Michele Mulroney
  • Writers
    • Michele Mulroney
    • Kieran Mulroney
  • Stars
    • Jeff Daniels
    • Emma Stone
    • Ryan Reynolds
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Kieran Mulroney
    • Michele Mulroney
  • Writers
    • Michele Mulroney
    • Kieran Mulroney
  • Stars
    • Jeff Daniels
    • Emma Stone
    • Ryan Reynolds
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 75User reviews
    • 61Critic reviews
    • 37Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Videos2

    Paper Man
    Trailer 2:28
    Paper Man
    Paper Man
    Trailer 7:35
    Paper Man

    Photos45

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

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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 reviews75

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Sentimentally Compelling
    I saw "Paper Man" recently in the favor of seeing Jeff Daniels act in a newer movie. And it is a job well done.

    This is fantastic indie movie and a strong directorial/writing debut for Kieran and Michele Mulroney. The casting is interesting and diverse adding in the likes of Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, and Kieran Culkin (who may I add surprised me very much). Each actor turns in their roles well for what they're meant to be. And I must say the film explores many intriguing concepts of one's mind, suggesting also how two people can be so different in age and still relate to how the other is feeling. It is heartfelt and very sentimental. The friendship between Daniels and Stone is sweet and quite emotionally driven. The roles of Reynolds and Culkin add another level to the movie's superiority because they change the film from being "your everyday drama among friends and family" to a individualistic adventure for one's identity in the cruel place that is the world.

    **A twist toward the end made me give this movie another bonus. It was unpredictable (at least for me) and allowed everything to tie together.

    It's definitely above average and a movie I plan on watching many more times in the future. Plus, Jeff Daniels always hands in a great act.
    helpful•33
    9
    • Ziglet_mir
    • Sep 24, 2010

    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

    Related news

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