Charlyne Yi, Michael Cera, Jake M. Johnson

Charlyne Yi embarks on a quest across America to make a documentary about the one subject she doesn't fully understand: Love.

Flixster Users

58% liked it

27,891 ratings

Critics

60% liked it

93 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 29 min.

Directed by: Nicholas Jasenovec

Release Date: August 14, 2009

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DVD Release Date: December 1, 2009

Stats: 560 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (560)


  • November 25, 2009
    "A story about love that's taking on a life of its own."

    Charlyne Yi embarks on a quest across America to make a documentary about the one subject she doesn't fully understand: Love.

    REVIEW

    Cha...( read more)rlyne Yi claims she doesn't believe in love (although she seems to want to believe in it). She and her friend, director Nicholas Jasenovec (on camera played by actor, Jake Johnson, so that the real Nicholas Jasenovec can spend time behind the camera) hit the road to try and somehow answer her questions by interviewing anybody who is willing to talk on camera. In the middle of all this, Michael Cera somehow strikes up a friendship with Yi, which somehow manages to turn into a relationship (of sorts). Of course, turns out to shift the focus in the film a bit. Other talking heads figure in this pseudo documentary cum mockumentary (actor/writer/director, Seth Rogen,who is a friend of Yi's, briefly turns up to put in his two cents worth). Along the way, we find out a little more about Charlyne Yi (besides being an actress, she's also a part time musician who actually writes & performs some of the songs in this film). Further down the road Charlyne and Michael start to get a bit tired of being in the camera lens when they just want a little down time to be alone together. Charlyne Yi seems a bit too tentative in her portrayal of herself at times. Worth taking a look at if you enjoy quirky,youth oriented film fare such as the above mentioned.
  • September 21, 2009
    A unique and creative teen romance that stars the unusual but the adorable lead, Charlyne Yi. Interviewing people across America documenting their stories while at the same time possibly falling in love herself. Part real, part set-up, and anyone who can tell fact from fiction sh...( read more)ould really enjoy this.
  • September 16, 2009
    Your like or dislike of this movie will depend greatly on your reaction to Charlyne Yi including her style of comedy and music. I find her quite funny and her music to be brilliant, which made for an entertaining film for me.
  • August 20, 2009
    Cute movie, love the home-made animations, a shame the love story was faked though. I don't know why Charlene Yi makes me laugh, she just does. She has awkwardness down to an artform I think !
  • November 25, 2009
    at first it was cool. the idea- the "documentary style" about love. by the end it gone pretty boring and kinda annoying at the same time. why cant she admit it. isnt it painful for the guy your dating to hear that you dont love him or something like that? right? which reminds me ...( read more)of 500 days of summer. girl who doesnt believe in love.....hmmmmmm
  • November 24, 2009
    I don't understand the mixed reactions to this movie as i thought it is brilliant! The whole behind the scenes of a documentary setup was a unique approach and i think they nailed it. Michael Cera was Michael Cera and Charlyne Yi equalled his gimpy, teenaged awkwardness so much...( read more) that their relationship felt very natural and unforced. The music was good and i likied the hand made animations. The snippets of real life people talking about love was a nice touch too as i thought it gave the movie an extra sense of realism. The movie had the similar theme of does love really exist like in 500 Days of Summer and what's great is that it didn't preach or try to come up with some really deep meaningful bullshit about love at the end, just a really cool animated ending showing 2 happy people. Loved it and you should love it too!
  • November 12, 2009
    Michael Cera is great but his girlfriend is one of the most annoying people ever put on film. Also I liked the documentary aspect of it but hated the fake love story. Why not make it just a straight documentary drove me crazy.
  • November 8, 2009
    MICHAEL CERA! (drools)
  • October 26, 2009
    Quirky charmer that melds documentary about finding love with a fictional love story between co-producer and star Charlyne Yi and actor Michael Cera playing themselves. Hilariously funny in some spots, deeply poignant in others. Ultimately very satisfying. Great soundtrack also!
  • October 22, 2009
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Critic Reviews


November 6, 2009
Nigel Andrews, The Financial Times

The film becomes more bewitching the more it loses direction. Yi stops questioning strangers and starts questioning herself. She also interrogates the ability, or inability, of cinema to follow love i... full review

August 8, 2009
Kurt Loder, MTV

The picture has a light, winsome appeal. full review

August 7, 2009
Kyle Smith, New York Post

Paper Heart is like a really special five-minute YouTube clip that goes on for an hour and a half. full review

August 7, 2009
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Paper Heart is a cute movie, a little too cute and a little too aware of its own cuteness. full review

August 7, 2009
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Even the most cynical are likely to be won over by the unassuming charms of Paper Heart. full review

August 7, 2009
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

Still, the stylistic games reflect Yi and her generation's larger dilemma. Paper Heart is a movie that can't commit about people who don't know how to. full review

August 7, 2009
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

Your appreciation for this shaggy dog project will probably depend on your enjoyment of Yi as a screen presence. full review

August 6, 2009
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Enjoying this wondrous wisp of a something is easy, describing it is hard. Luckily, Charlyne Yi is an enchantress. full review

August 6, 2009
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

A quasi-documentary about love that is sweet, true and perhaps a little deceptive. full review

View more Paper Heart reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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  • i kill criminals by writing down their name in a special piece of paper n once their name are written, they die of heart attack  Answer »

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