Definitely, Maybe (2008)

71% of critics liked it
(143 reviews)
72% of users liked it
(129,254 ratings)

A political consultant in the midst of a bitter divorce attempts to delicately divulge the truth about his past relationships to his curious young daughter, who simply won't stop asking questions until she's satisfied with all the answers. Ten-year-old Maya (Abigail Breslin) is heartbroken to see… More A political consultant in the midst of a bitter divorce attempts to delicately divulge the truth about his past relationships to his curious young daughter, who simply won't stop asking questions until she's satisfied with all the answers. Ten-year-old Maya (Abigail Breslin) is heartbroken to see her parents splitting up, but she's determined to find out precisely how it was that mom and dad came together in the first place. When Maya starts questioning her father Will (Ryan Reynolds) about his life before marriage, dad's memories soon drift back to the time when, as a naïve Wisconsin native and aspiring politician hoping to work on the presidential election, he first arrived in New York City. As Will gradually became savvy to the ways of the big city, he gradually developed romantic relationships with three very different women: Emily (Elizabeth Banks) was the girl-next-door that he could always depend on, apolitical April (Isla Fisher) was the best friend and confidante who was always there to listen, and free-spirited journalist Summer (Rachel Weisz) was both beautiful and ambitious. In order to prevent his perceptive little girl from predicting the outcome before his story is told, Will carefully changes the names of his three romantic interests, creating a hopelessly romantic puzzle that highlights both the joys and hardships of true love. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 52 min.
Directed By: Adam Brooks
Written By: Adam Brooks
Genres: Comedy, Romance

In Theaters: Jan 24, 2008 Wide
On DVD: Jun 24, 2008
Studio: Universal Pictures

Critic Reviews

David Denby, New Yorker
Definitely, Maybe, which was written and directed by Adam Brooks, has charm and spirit.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
Tthe performances are very strong.
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal
Everything feels derivative and nothing rings true -- it's The Way We Weren't.
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor
Definitely, Maybe isn't terrible exactly, but it's bland, and in some ways that's worse. It's a romance posing as a detective story in which the solution is obvious and not worth the fuss.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
This highly uneven comedy by writer-director Adam Brooks might be easier to take if it were less infatuated with its own cuteness.
Philip Marchand, Toronto Star
It's no accident that the producers Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan, are the pair responsible for such romantic comedies as Love Actually, About a Boy, Bridget Jones's Diary and Notting Hill, all starring Hugh Grant.
Mike Scott, Times-Picayune
More satisfying than your cookie-cutter romantic comedy but far less overwrought than a full-blown period romance, it finds a satisfying and cuddly middle ground.
Jordan Hoffman, UGO
This is straight-up young people whining about their relationships.
Xan Brooks, Guardian [UK]
It's sweet natured and brightly played.
Tony Medley, tonymedley.com
While clearly aimed at women, many men could find it as entertainingly endurable as did I.
Scott Nash, Three Movie Buffs
The movie has heart and humor; the two most important traits for any romantic comedy.
Eric Lurio, Entertainment Insiders
The writing is clever, the acting is good, and this is pretty much as good a chick flick as you're going to get.
Susan Tavernetti, Palo Alto Weekly
Modern romance may be more realistic in Definitely, Maybe, but it's also less satisfying than the illusions that classic romantic movies create about amore.
Joseph Proimakis, Movies for the Masses
apsogo holigoyntiano stil komple me tileoptikizoysa eikonografisi, sympyknonontas treis romenti payla ntramenti se ena hortastiko gia ta metra toy paketo
Heather Huntington, ReelzChannel.com
If you're looking for a nice romantic comedy for your Valentine's Day date, look no further%u2014Definitely, Maybe is positively it.
Jeff Bayer, The Scorecard Review
For all the unnatural setup, it's amazing that the performances come off so naturally.
Austin Kennedy, Sin Magazine
All of the romantic scenes work here, but anytime it switched gears and started focusing on the politics, it lost me.
Bruce Bennett, Spectrum (St. George, Utah)
Who will our unlucky in love protagonist ultimately choose? Even if one correctly surmises, the journey is filled with quietly humorous and engaging moments.
JoBlo, JoBlo's Movie Emporium
Not entirely successful, but worth a look.
Bill Gibron, PopMatters
It may not be a dense, delectable treat, but while it's around, Definitely, Maybe is pleasant enough.

Read all 20 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

John M

Ryan Reynolds and Abigal Breslin shine in this beautiful movie that in the end had me in tears. Isla Fisher as April is also wonderful in this. Just a great movie.
Dean !

One of the best Rom-com's in recent years. Not full of laughs throughout, it does have it's more serious and dramatic parts along the way. It does have a great cast with Renolds, the 3 female leads and a good performance by Abigail Breslin as Reynolds daughter. A good story… More
One of the best Rom-com's in recent years. Not full of laughs throughout, it does have it's more serious and dramatic parts along the way. It does have a great cast with Renolds, the 3 female leads and a good performance by Abigail Breslin as Reynolds daughter. A good story largely told in retrospective segments as a father tells his daughter of his 3 main loves in his life, to see if she can work out which one was her mother. A class above most Rom-coms, with aspects similar to The Notebook and Serendipity!
Jennifer X

This is one of the best romantic comedies I've seen in a long time. The story is romantic and snappy, keeping just the right amount of mystery so that it is not confusing but whimsically engrossing. I loved having the setting during Bill Clinton's time - it weathered and… More
This is one of the best romantic comedies I've seen in a long time. The story is romantic and snappy, keeping just the right amount of mystery so that it is not confusing but whimsically engrossing. I loved having the setting during Bill Clinton's time - it weathered and toughened out the story in an aspect where it definitely could've been too "fairytale". Isla Fisher is the European Amy Adams; I thought she was so, so adorable whenever she delivered anything. I hope she gets a great career in the future. I still kind of hate Ryan Reynolds because his acting style has touches of the egotistical and fake, but I think he manages to obtain a decent amount of chemistry with all four female characters (Abigail Breslin included). The casting was pretty much flawless, even though I think they could've had Elizabeth Banks do more and had us like her more. She can be perfectly endearing, that one. But as a general idea, I highly recommend this movie to anyone and I couldn't stop smiling throughout!
Bethany M

The ending got me with this film. Ryan Reynolds played Abigail Bronsons father so perfectly and this is one of the best love stories written.
Kristijonas F

I'm such a sucker for Romantic Comedies that its hard for me to advise against watching one... but combine that with my absolute adoration of Ryan Reynolds, a witty script and sharp direction - and you get a hell of a great movie.
Nani V

I enjoy movies that takes place over a period of time, especially when it's about relationships. It's a journey of it's own and you can see how the characters develop with time. Ryan Reynolds plays Will Hayes, father to Maya Hayes (Breslin). While going through a… More
I enjoy movies that takes place over a period of time, especially when it's about relationships. It's a journey of it's own and you can see how the characters develop with time. Ryan Reynolds plays Will Hayes, father to Maya Hayes (Breslin). While going through a divorce, Maya asks her father to tell the story of how he met her mom. He starts from the beginning and shares about the relationships in between as well. I found it to be sweet and relevant.
Jameson W

I'm not going to lie. I love this movie! I really like the fluidity of the 4 stories, how they're all mixed together and how they all build off one another. Isla Fisher and Abigail Breslin really add to this film. Definitely one of the better romantic comedies I've… More
I'm not going to lie. I love this movie! I really like the fluidity of the 4 stories, how they're all mixed together and how they all build off one another. Isla Fisher and Abigail Breslin really add to this film. Definitely one of the better romantic comedies I've seen. I recommend it!
Spencer S

Cute in its concept, but not altogether great.
Jeff "

Boring uninspired comedy romantic drama film. Painfully too long, and doesn't go to the point. bad script, acting and directing make this a definite miss!
familiar s

Is it a 'mystery love story' (as the character Maya puts it)? Definitely, maybe. Is it a 'must watch' rom-com? Definitely not. 5.5/10.
KJ P

I didn't really care for it, and the whole story would never happen, so why bother!
Film C

A bit disappointing! I mean its a bit funny cute little story but just a little boring to be honest! great cast and great acting as well! its about 3 woman that reynolds dated and loved and he explains a sotry to his little daughter about the 3 ladies and through a series of story… More
A bit disappointing! I mean its a bit funny cute little story but just a little boring to be honest! great cast and great acting as well! its about 3 woman that reynolds dated and loved and he explains a sotry to his little daughter about the 3 ladies and through a series of story telling and seeing which one he loves and needs to rekindle his love! not great but i guess worth a watch~!!!
Derek A

"Dad, I can't believe you smoked... and drank... and were such a slut... But I still love you." A surprise hit in 2008, Definitely, Maybe is a sweet and charming film about a recently divorced father (Ryan Reynolds) who tells his… More
"Dad, I can't believe you smoked... and drank... and were such a slut... But I still love you." A surprise hit in 2008, Definitely, Maybe is a sweet and charming film about a recently divorced father (Ryan Reynolds) who tells his daughter (Abigal Breslin) the story of how he met and fell in love with her mother. The narration then turns to lengthy flashbacks, and we're introduced to the three women Reynold's character fell in love with. Mystery deepens as more and more is revealed about each chance encounter until the climatic ending when his daughter finds out which character in the story tale is her mother. This film is cute and enjoyable. Breslin is adorable, and although she already knows her mother in real life, she was overwhelmed with anxiety trying to piece together the puzzle of which character from her dad's story was her mom. When faced with the idea of one of the characters being her mom, she swore she'd move to Canada. I liked this setup... it enables you to get lost in the story, and intrigued by the mystery. The three lead actresses are all beautiful and delivered convincing performances: Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz, and Isla Fisher. This is a beautiful story about love, hope, and second chances. One of the most endearing films of 2008. "Fine, I'm gonna tell you the story, but I'm not telling you who your mom is. You're just gonna have to figure it out for yourself. And I'm changing all of the names, and some of the facts. I just decided that right now. Then we'll see how smart you are."
Leigh R

So beautiful... it makes you want to cry.
Bannan i

Terribly cute and funny. Review TBC.
Sarah G

Director:Adam Brooks Released: 2008 Stars:Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Kline,Rachel Weisz and Elizabeth Banks Genre: Comedy/Romance Country: USA On the day she has her first sex ed… More
Director:Adam Brooks Released: 2008 Stars:Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Kline,Rachel Weisz and Elizabeth Banks Genre: Comedy/Romance Country: USA On the day she has her first sex ed class, 10-year-old Maya grills her divorcing dad Will Hayes about her conception. That night, he fills her in, changing the names of the women who were in his life then to keep her guessing which is her mom: Emily, his college girlfriend when he came to New York from Wisconsin for Clinton's '92 campaign; April, edgy, a little cynical, who misses her father; and, Summer, a writer attracted to older, established men. In demanding the story, Maya's motivation is clear: to get her dad to fall in love again with her mom. Will this parent trap work? In the telling, might Will discover his true Penelope? Definitely Review coming soon...
Nicki M

Very slow moving and I'm unsure of Ryan Reynolds as a romantic lead. Rachel Weisz was just yuck. I couldn't stand her or her character, so put together with Ryan Reynolds, I pretty much just wanted to switch off on those parts! Isla Fisher saves this one as does Abigail… More
Very slow moving and I'm unsure of Ryan Reynolds as a romantic lead. Rachel Weisz was just yuck. I couldn't stand her or her character, so put together with Ryan Reynolds, I pretty much just wanted to switch off on those parts! Isla Fisher saves this one as does Abigail Breslin, to a lesser extent. It's okay, I have seen a lot worse, but something about it doesn't quite work, although the ending redeems it somewhat.
paul s

a sweet bit of romantic fantasty that holds within it an interesting mystery (who will end up being the wife). There is also an interesting turn where the male lead gets disillusioned by the politics that he cared so much about. Idealism meets the real world. There are a few… More
a sweet bit of romantic fantasty that holds within it an interesting mystery (who will end up being the wife). There is also an interesting turn where the male lead gets disillusioned by the politics that he cared so much about. Idealism meets the real world. There are a few flaws here, as ofttimes the young daughter seems alternately wise beyond her years, and then totally juvinile; or when charactors seem to know too much or know of things they have no right to know - an example, when the male lead finally gives the long lost book to April and says that he's now divorced, she casually says "yes, I've heard". How? Is there a broadcast on the nightly news of all the recent divorces in NYC? Yes, it's a throwaway line, but all the more telling as it makes no sense and, in one of the few times in this film, exhibits sloppy writting. In all, the tone throughout is a nice one, and I enjoyed the gimmick of stopping the story to have the daughter interject or question. Here's a romantic "comedy" that has surprising depth and is true to it's tone.
James A

Its not Matthew Mconaghey bad but it is still a pretty long and boring romantic comedy.
Dean L

A story about a man finding himself as he relates his past to his daughter. More specifically, how did he meet her "Mom." A very interesting look at the travels of a young man through various stages in his personal and professional development and the relationships he has… More
A story about a man finding himself as he relates his past to his daughter. More specifically, how did he meet her "Mom." A very interesting look at the travels of a young man through various stages in his personal and professional development and the relationships he has along the way. We have three romantic interests each played incredibly well by Isla Fisher, Rachel Weisz and Elizabeth Banks. Reynolds has courted and been intimately involved with each one, but what his daughter wants to know is...which personality is her Mom as Reynolds changes the names. Along the way he learns a lot about himself both in the telling and through the curiosity of his daughter played by Abigail Breslin who breathes life into what could have been a very stale "vehicle" character. The main antagonist if there is one (and if it is not Reynolds unto himself) is played by Kevin Kline who is always a joy to watch. Ryan Reynolds is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with. He has been relegated primarily to straight comedy and romantic comedy thus far (with a few strays like "Amityville Horror" in which he was really quite good even if the movie was not), but his timing is so superb and he is so charming that I think we are going to see a break out in his career very soon. This is a sweet tale that never strays into the cliche effectively woven through various stages and delivered with heart. There are a lot of laughs and a few layers to peel back as well. There is much here to be enjoyed.