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.
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Paper Man tells the tale of an unlikely friendship between a middle age author (Jeff Daniels) and a teen aged girl (Emma Stone). Although this friendship is misunderstood by the people surrounding their lives, it asks questions about the meaning and importance of friendship. The use of the imaginary friends helps the viewer to understand the conflict going on in both these peoples lives. And in doing so adds a comical and interesting dynamic to the story.
Performances are strong with both Daniels and Stone. I've always thought that Jeff Daniels was an underrated actor and am hoping that one day he will get his break. I don't think this movie is it, but he is getting closer. Ryan Reynolds is great as Captain Excellent and Kieran Culkin is also very good in the part.
I would highly recommend this film, especially if you have a good friend to watch it with. And if your prone to a bit of a cry during movies, then grab a box of tissues before viewing. Its a very sweet movie. "sniff, sniff."
The story in "Paper Man" is very warm, heartfelt and straight forward. It moves forward in a good pace, and you are never left bored throughout the course of the movie. Now, the movie is obviously kept afloat by the superb acting performances of Jeff Daniels and Emma Stone. I think this is one of the best roles I have ever had the pleasure of seeing Jeff Daniels in. Not saying that his previous work is bad, just that this is outstanding. And Emma Stone worked so well opposite Daniels in her role, despite being that much younger than Daniels.
The role of Ryan Reynolds, well it was essential to the movie, although I think it would have worked better with an unknown actor for that role. But still, Reynolds is not a bad actor, but he didn't really shine through in this role, at least not for me. Lisa Kudrow performed adequately as well, although it did seem like her character didn't come off as strong on the screen as it was intended.
You might think a movie like this would be for a female audience, but I found it to be very nice, as a guy. The story is captivating and the performances are good. The story is not at any point too sassy, and at the end of the movie, you come to appreciate the movie for what it is. A unique piece of cinema about how people grow.
This is definitely not a movie you should let pass you by. Do yourself the favor and sit down to watch it (with or without your significant other). This is a very, very nice movie.
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.
Paper Man is a very charming dramedy with excellent performances by Jeff Daniels and Emma Stone who form a unique friendship that fills the opposite voids each character has in their lives. The type of friendship they form could have easily been ruined by coming off too romantic, but both Daniels and Stone teeter the line of awkward and endearing perfectly to keep the dramatic aspects in a comedic tone.
Then there's Captain Excellent, the imaginary friend to Richard Dunn (Jeff Daniels) played by Ryan Reynolds. Captain Excellent is the sarcastic "voice of reason" to Dunn that leads to many comical exchanges between the two. The sarcastic tone of the character plays well into Ryan Reynolds' wheelhouse and, because of that, I really enjoyed Reynolds in this roll. I thought both he and Daniels were great playing off each other.
All in all, this is a very solid flick that I would definitely recommend you check out.
Did you know
- GoofsRichard's first beer is draft perfect, then the bartender holds a bad beer in his hands. In the next shot, it is perfect again. The next shot shows the bad beer again, and then it even dies completely (and there's less beer) in Richard hands, only to be perfect again when he takes his first sip.
- 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 creditsCaptain Excellent makes a final appearance as the end credits begin.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Kick-Ass/Death at a Funeral/The Joneses (2010)
- SoundtracksBluebird of Happiness
Written by Neil Halstead & Ian McCutcheon
Performed by Mojave 3
Courtesy of 4AD LTD.
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Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $13,514
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $8,613
- Apr 25, 2010
- Gross worldwide
- $13,514
- Runtime1 hour 50 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1