Definitely, Maybe (2008)

A political consultant tries to explain his impending divorce and past relationships to his 11-year-old daughter.

Director:

Adam Brooks

Writer:

Adam Brooks

Stars:

Ryan Reynolds, Rachel Weisz, Abigail Breslin

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ryan Reynolds	...	Will Hayes
An Nguyen	...	Ad Exec
Matthew Mason	...	Headphone Guy
Rick Derby	...	Visitor from Planet Ordon (as Ricky Jay Derby)
Sakina Jaffrey	...	School Mom
Bob Wiltfong	...	School Dad
Ryder Chasin	...	Boy with Book
Fiona Lane	...	Angry Girl
Dana Eskelson	...	Angry Girl's Mom
Blake Benitez	...	School Kid
Paulina Gerzon	...	School Kid
Victoria Goldsmith	...	School Kid
Ashtyn Greenstein	...	School Kid
Ashley Grenier	...	School Kid
Dylan Hartigan	...	School Kid

Storyline

Romantic comedy: Will Hayes, a 30-something Manhattan dad is in the midst of a divorce when his 10 year old daughter, Maya, starts to question him about his life before marriage. Maya wants to know absolutely everything about how her parents met and fell in love. Will's story begins in 1992, as a young, starry-eyed aspiring politician who moves to New York from Wisconsin in order to work on the Clinton campaign. For Maya, Will relives his past as a idealistic young man learning the ins and outs of big city politics, and recounts the history of his romantic relationships with three very different women. On the campaign, Will's best buddy is Russell McCormack. They not only have similar political aspirations, they share the same type of girl problems, too. Will hopelessly attempts a "PG" version of his story for his daughter ad changes the names so Maya has to guess who he finally married. Is her mother Will's college sweetheart, the dependable girl next-door Emily? Is she his longtime ...

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Plot Keywords:

daughter | divorce | new york city | father | storytelling | 

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Taglines:

Three relationships. Three disasters. One last chance.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, including some frank dialogue, language and smoking

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Universal Pictures [Japan]

Country:

UK France Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 February 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Definitely, Maybe

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£698,041 (United Kingdom), 10 February 2008, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,472,255, 17 February 2008, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$31,973,840, 6 April 2008

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, StudioCanal, Working Title Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby DTS SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Abigail Breslin's character makes reference to her American Girls doll collection stating that they would be "worth a fortune". Breslin is the third actress to play one of the American Girls, Kit Kittredge, in her own movie (Kit Kittredge: An American Girl (2008)). Both films were released in 2008. (Other movies made from American Girls stories are based on the characters Felicity and Samantha.)

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Goofs

When Will and Summer are called to the hospital, a nurse tells them that Hampton has suffered an "aortal rupture." In medical terminology, all terms relating to the aorta are "aortic". There is no such word as aortal. Notwithstanding this, an aortic rupture is a life threatening condition. Anyone who has this would either be dead or in the Intensive Care Unit heavily sedated, not conversing easily like Hampton was. At the very least, he should have had a blood transfusion bag hanging over his bed.

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Quotes

Hampton Roth: It's killing me that you're going out with the kid.
Summer Hartley: Really? It's not the booze or the cigarettes or the sophomores?
Hampton Roth: That has nothing to do with this.
Summer Hartley: Nothing to do with it.
Hampton Roth: Listen, I want you to know I've donated my organs to medical science except for one, which is for you.
Summer Hartley: Sweetie, that's so kind.
[looks down towards the torso]
Hampton Roth: No, no, not that.
[points to his chest]
Hampton Roth: My heart, stupid.
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in El Reviewer Random: New in Town (2012)

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Soundtracks

Cigarettes And Coffee
(1993)
Written by Jerry Butler, Eddie Thomas, and Jay Walker
Performed by Otis Redding
Courtesy of Warner Music (UK) Ltd

User Reviews

A better example of the genre

If you were looking for an evening in (or out) watching a romcom (and don't we all feel that that sometimes), choose this one above some of the more well known and popular examples. It's well-crafted and tries hard to avoid many of the well-known clichés. Plenty of twist and turns: sentimentality, yes, but not laid on with a table-knife rather than a trowel. Admittedly not quite Harry met Sally or Annie Hall, as, though competently acted, the characters are still romcom cyphers. But marvel at the script-writers' solid achievement of entertainment and engagement. Competent production values keep it rolling along to the last second, without padding. If it had just added those witty little touches of human observation that characterise a great movie it might have made it into my "8" rating, reserved for films that have something outstanding.