Paper Man

Wow, I just watched this movie and so many on here said how great it was? I like the actors in this movie so I figured I would like the Movie. It should have been called " a few days in the life of a dysfunctional man". This movie seems to fall apart about half way through because it did hold my interest at the beginning. I even laughed once or twice. By the half way point I was more looking forward to it ending. Maybe some important scenes were deleted that would have made a connection to all the loose ends that seem so unimportant or maybe a few more well placed scenes could have made the story worth watching. It needed to either be funnier or have a more substantial story to have been a good movie. Not much of a plot here folks, I figured out that the girl also had an imaginary friend before their two imaginary friends ever communicated, so I do fully understand every thing about the movie. I just thought it was a pretty lame movie. I ask myself how could this movie ever be rated around 7, now I see quite a few people that say they didn't like it but still give it a 5 or so? to me a 5 means average 4 means barely worth watching a 3 means you don't like it a 2 means it was hard to actually watch it and a 1 means one of the worst movies you ever saw. But a 7 on this? my 7 means a very good movie. This was a movie about almost nothing but how two people who had weird childhood issues made something of an incomplete and very strange connection. This is definitely at the bottom of the last ten movies that I have watched but because the acting was pretty good, I won't sink to low. Out of the 4 of us that watched it, no on gave it thumbs up.

This film barely elevates itself out of the dust bin that it crawled out of. Whether Jeff Daniels' horrible, awkward and unfunny groping of Emma Stone or his pushing 10th graders into alcoholic stupors, the disgusting aspects of this film are tough to rise above. The horrible dialog - stilted and sparse - is anything but funny and the comedic moments are completely squandered. What I find most flabbergasting is the complete lack of anything resembling plot closure or character's personal progress at the end of the movie. It just trails off into some kind of oblivion which is exactly where this movie belongs: oblivion. Having said all that, I will justify my 3 star rating by saying that the two leads prove they are worthy of being considered among the best of the best in Hollywood. Honorable mention goes to Lisa Kudrow who provides a yeoman's performance as an unlikable but decent wife.

This is one of those super boring movies in which nothing really interesting happens. The story revolves around Richard Dunn, a writer (Jeff Daniels) with a writer's block and I wouldn't be surprised that would also describe the writer of this movie. Richard Dunn is accompanied by his imaginary friend Captain Excellent (Ryan Reynolds) and his new friend Abby (Emma Stone). There is nothing really more to say about this movie. The actors - aside from Kieran Culkin - have done a good job but they don't really have anything to work with. You might think that a movie with characters such as the imaginary superhero Captain Excellent, a high school girl and a writer could be interesting and it most definitely can, but this movie is more concerned about... well... nothing really. It's like the writers of this movie have decided for some reason to throw away the entire script and focus only on what the characters would do outside the script, when nothing interesting happens. On top of the boredom we get the amazingly hideous and talentless Kieren Culkin who is obviously only in the movie because he is a member of the Culkin family. He plays - or tries to play - Christopher, a friend of Abby who has a crush on her. His role is totally pointless because you can't identify with him - except for the part that he looks like a nerdy virgin, but the movie depends on Kieren Culkin to make us sympathize with his crush on Abby while the movie revolves around Richard and Abby. His character has no reason to exist in the movie, much like his acting career. Ryan Reynolds, in contrast, is a good actor but in this movie he doesn't really have much acting to do. I guess that constantly putting on his Superman-like custom was the most work he had to do during the making of this movie. Unless you like slow and boring movies, I wouldn't recommend this movie.

It's not surprising that the critics didn't like this film. They always seem to miss the good ones. I watched this film because Jeff Daniels was in it and I always enjoy his work. He was terrific as the neurotic writer, but Emma Stone owned this film. What an outstanding actor she is. I don't know what sort of training she had, but she's a natural. She becomes the character she plays. She is absolutely believable. This is the best work I've seen her do. Ryan Reynolds was Excellent (as in Captain). His comic timing and demeanor was spot on. Lisa Kudrow had a smaller part but was still terrific as the frustrated wife. Thanks to Michele and Kieran Mulroney for the outstanding script and direction. Please do it again.

Kieran Mulroney and Michele Mulroney's 'Paper Man' is an Average fare, that hardly entertains. Despite a catchy idea and super performances... this flick fails to impress, due to poor writing. 'Paper Man' is about loneliness, childishness, redemption and above all, confusion. The protagonist isn't very interesting. He comes across very confused and babyish. Kieran Mulroney and Michele Mulroney, fail to impress. Their Screenplay lacks energy and enthusiasm. Sure, The film begins ably, but, slips down-hill a bit too soon. Even their direction is plain average. Performance-Wise: Jeff Daniels, as expected, performs very well. But his character limits him after a point. Emma Stone is absolutely fantastic! She lives her part from start to end. Lisa Kudrow is very good. Ryan Reynolds as Captain Excellent, is likable. Kieran Culkin is alright. Arabella Field is fair. On the whole, a strictly one-time watch, that hardly demands a second-viewing. A Letdown!

PAPER MAN – TRASH IT ( C+ ) I really love what Kurt Loder's said in his review of Paper Man "Are we supposed to look upon a guy who comes on to young girls and plies kids with alcohol as some sort of blithe free spirit?" He is right; Jeff Daniels character is flawed and becomes annoying eventually… I mean this person doesn't take any responsibility for his actions. He whines about not having baby and actually he is the one who never wanted babies then he sees a teenager Emma Stone and starts stalking her. They becomes friends and then it was hard to name their relationship because when Lisa Kudrow caught both wasted on a book couch, Emma Stone comes after-wards and says she wished she had crazy father like that and in the end when Jeff Daniels leaves with his wife (which is hard to accept why would Lisa Kudrow still from years deal with his crap) she kisses him on the lips. And hey Jeff Daniels has a Hot imaginary friend as well Captain Excellent Aka. Ryan Reynolds (Weirdish). So, when the directors/writers thought it's not enough weird they make an imaginary Not-Hot friend for Emma Stone (Keiran Culkin), which was surprising. So, now you would be wondering why I still gave it a (C+) rating, well simply because of Emma Stone. With all of it's desperately wanted to be independent breakout cliché movie, the only thing stand out is Emma Stone and to some extent Ryan Reynolds. Emma Stone showed how great actress she has become, whether its comedy or emotional, quirky movie like that she standout! Jeff Daniels did a good job but his character is so flawed that in the end you just don't believe on his character or performance. Lisa Kudrow's character was confusing, why she is still with this man is Out of My understating. Ryan Reynolds is funny, seriously this man looks incredibly HOT and you can't take your eyes off his incredible body in tights ;-). Hunter Parish plays Callous Boyfriend "yet again" which I always Love because who don't wanna Do him. He is born for that Raw Hotness! Keiran Culkin plays Woebegone as he has a face of Woebegone Emo person. In the end Paper Man flawed big time but it's not Boring at least. So, you can give it a Shot for Emma Stone's Performance or Ryan Reynolds's Tights or Hunter Parish's Callous behavior.

I remember seeing a preview for this movie once a while back and thought it looked interesting, but then I never heard about it again. While roaming through Netflix one night I came across it in my queue and decided to check it out and very glad that I did. 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.

I saw "Paper Man" recently in the favor of seeing Jeff Daniels act in a newer movie. And it is a job well done. 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.

What an inventive feature debut for this killer directing duo. Paper Man successfully manages to mix big concept with the feel of an intimate character driven film. A fun, inventive, drama told through a comic frame. Great performances from the whole star-studded cast. A well- observed, tightly knit spiral into a troubled man's psyche, the film takes off fast and doesn't stop until its surprising and tense conclusion. It's refreshing to see indie-style filmmaking coming from such an accomplished cast and crew. Thumbs up for an original and moving soundtrack. Thumbs up for unique concept. Thumbs up for a great, creative partnership from its creators. Netflix it. Amazon it. Enjoy it.

It is a very rare occurrence when one finds himself staring into a film wondering exactly what one is looking at and me, having lost my film virginity very early, i generally have the whole script figured out within the first twenty minutes; But not with Paper Man. Intrigued by the trailers of a mature Jeff Daniels wrestling with his imaginary superhero friend, i dedicated a hour and a half of my best time to the film, with great expectations, and this is what i got out of it: Richard (Daniels) is a writer, in his late forties, who isn't really all quite there with his head. His wife Claire (Kudrow) drives him to the hamptons so that he can isolate himself a bit and find a vein to finish his next book. While in his hermit's retreat, Richard "hires" a baby-sitter (with no baby in sight) to keep him company. As Richard is little more than an overgrown infant, the two form a friendship based on his insanity and her cluelessness. Cue moments of liberation, and crash back to reality when the wife shows up. And then, when the film was now over, i realised what i was looking at : Nothing. Mark my words: one day there will be a beautiful film, perfectly shot and with the best actors in the world, about a man who goes shopping for groceries. Oh the humanity. Oh the human dimension. Whatever possessed Lisa Kudrow to commit suicide with this role is beyond me; Did she read a different script ? Were there massive parts of the film that got left on the cutting room floor? Seriously, i don't want to sound harsh, but .. Richard is obviously NOT a mid-life crisis case, more like a lunatic asylum case: why isn't the aspect of his insanity examined At All in the film ? If the relationship with the baby sitter needs to be a purely platonic one - and to tell the truth, there really isn't a relationship here, given that he's a manic delusional and she is clueless about it - why did the writer center it on a scene where she *thinks* he is coming on to her, while in fact he's just being a loonie, and then put absolutely no moment of connection between the characters in the film whatsoever? And worst of all.. What is the Plot of the film ? I'm amazed that a production of this calibre can still get the go-ahead without anyone stepping in and saying "this film has no story"; Here is a short summary of what happens: Loonie gets left alone, runs into a girl who hangs around him because money falls out of his pockets, her friends take advantage of his wallet, they throw a keg party. The End. Of Kieran and Michele Mulroney's career. I can equate this film to only one other i have seen before, and it was an Andy Warhol film.. Here is a lesson for anyone who wants to be a film director, or writer, or even worse, both: before you get behind the camera, you must have had at least once, a moment where you busted in you'r best friend's house and yelled "I GOT A GREAT IDEA FOR A MOVIE". If you haven't had that, don't do it. Leave the impressionism to the french, and go down to the library to get some books on writing. 4/10 really, really pointless. Transformers was better.