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No matter who you are or what you do for a living, you know what it’s like to have an off day—one of those days when it would be nice to have your own personal superhero, who can swoop down and battle any of the obstacles in your way. Well, struggling writer Richard Dunn (Jeff Daniels) has had more than his share of off days—and even Captain Excellent (Ryan Reynolds), his lifelong imaginary friend, can’t help him.
In an attempt to help him focus on writing his second novel, Richard’s wife, Claire (Lisa Kudrow), rents him a woodsy cottage on Long Island, where he can work all week without interruption. But (like any good writer) Richard finds his own interruptions—like learning origami. Or rearranging the furniture. Or riding a kid’s bike into town, where he meets Abby (Emma Stone), a local girl who needs a friend just as much as he does.
Set in a seaside resort town in the winter, Paper Man has an inherently melancholy tone—but it’s frequently brightened by the film’s quick wit and endearingly eccentric characters. And first-time directors Kieran and Michele Mulroney were blessed with a reliable cast—each member of which gives a pitch-perfect performance.
Richard is a quirky character—a grown man who’s suffering from a kind of Peter Pan Syndrome. He has all kinds of creative energy, but he just can’t seem to harness it into his writing—mostly because he can’t get beyond his past failures. He obviously has stories to tell—stories that can bring even the tough guys in the local bar to tears—but he just can’t get them on paper.
Daniels gives Richard a kind of lovable childlike innocence—which helps to explain the frequent appearances by Captain Excellent—yet he keeps the character relatively well-balanced. At times, you’ll wonder how he could be married to a successful surgeon (and it’s pretty surprising to see Lisa Kudrow playing the stable, mature one for a change, too), but you’ll also see a glimmer of the playful, sensitive guy that any woman would fall for.
Stone, meanwhile, gives the performance of her young career as Abby. Though she’s a consistently strong performer, she goes above and beyond this time around, adding the right touch of sadness and vulnerability to her usual tough, quick-witted character.
Both stars provide a good balance of moving drama and quirky comedy—but Reynolds cranks the comedy up a notch every time his wonderfully over-the-top Captain Excellent shows up. Though the character often feels a bit out of place, he’s a delight to watch—and he helps to lighten the tone at just the right moments.
Together with the Mulroneys’ clever and heartfelt screenwriting, the charming cast makes Paper Man a beautiful indie drama about love, friendship, and growing up. It’s a little film that’s well worth seeking out—even if you have to ride a kid’s bike into town in the middle of winter to do so.
DVD Review:
The DVD release of Paper Man is pretty light on extras—as you might expect from an indie film. In fact, the special features menu contains just a trailer and a making-of feature. But the making-of feature is well worth watching.
In this short feature, the cast and crew discuss the filmmaking process, which is unusual here because Paper Man isn’t the typical studio film. Instead, the first-time filmmakers spent several years developing the project and working with producers and the Sundance Institute in an attempt to get the film made. So if you have an interest in independent film, it’s well worth a few extra minutes of your time.
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