Chaos Theory (II) (2007) User Reviews

Truth ... The beating of the human heart

[ferguson-6 · 8/10 · 13 April 2008]

Greetings again from the darkness. A quirky, surprising little gem from writer Daniel Taplitz and director Marcos Siega ("Pretty Persuasion"). Not in the traditional Hollywood mode, this one takes us on a very unusual path towards self-actualization.

Ryan Reynolds delivers by far his best screen performance as the OCD dad who seems to have the perfect family, job and life. The trouble is, he runs it through endless lists, often burdening his wife (the always terrific Emily Mortimer) with helping him maintain his "to do" schedule. After a most unusual spouse selection process, Mortimer, becomes disenchanted with the structure ... that is, until it is swept away in a moment of misunderstanding.

Can't give away too much here other than to say Reynolds heads towards an awakening through a bizarre series of events that leads him to a life-changing moment that involves a rowboat and his "friend" Stuart Townsend (also excellent). The story does not follow the traditional story arc, yet we are always invested in the main characters ... trying to urge them to make smart decisions! It's actually a great deal of fun.

This one probably won't reach a wide audience since none of the cast are huge draws, and neither the writer or director are big names. That's too bad because this is quality story telling, acting and overall film-making.

Chaos Theory is an honest and well-done look at a man whose world is turned upside down

[red_grace · 8/10 · 19 March 2008]

Chaos Theory is an extremely well done film. It is a serious, emotional and at times humorous look at life and love that is incredibly honest and centers around equally honest and real characters. With the feel of a good indie flick and a strong leading man, Chaos Theory is one of those rare, genuine explorations of the human condition.

Frank Allen (Ryan Reynolds), an obsessively organized efficiency expert and top-selling author, has spent his entire life planning out every little detail and following the lists and schedules he makes for himself. He clings to controlling everything because it brings order, which gives him a sense of comfort and peace of mind.

One day, Frank's wife Susan (Emily Mortimer) sets the clocks forward ten minutes to help him be early for his schedule but accidentally sets them back ten minutes instead, making him late for his lecture on efficiency and setting off a chain of events that sends Frank's life spiraling. Through a course of seemingly random events, he learns some new information that, in effect, reveals to him that much of what he believed about his life is based on false information.

Not knowing how to deal with the revelation, Franks throws everything he's ever believed about order and efficiency out the window and starts living life on whim and chance. As he lets chaos overtake his life, he struggles to deal with the new truth that defines his life and forgive those involved.

The movie has its share of funny parts, but it really shines in its dramatic moments - when it's serious and honest. It effectively deals with things like relationships, truth, friendship and forgiveness, and it all feels true to how real people would react. As Frank and Susan try to deal with the new information, they begin to reassess their marriage and Frank questions what he's believed in for so long. His downward spiral into chaos is both interesting and realistic as well; none of it rings false. As you watch it all transpire on the screen, you're able to understand and relate to many of the emotions that Frank is struggling with.

Much of this success comes from the performance of Ryan Reynolds, an actor best known for comedic roles in movies like Waiting… and Van Wilder, but who has an intensity and seriousness about him that translates powerfully to other types of roles. This is evident in Definitely, Maybe as well as Chaos Theory, and the latter is quite a departure from the comedy work he has done previously – one he excels in and should do more often.

One scene where his talent and intensity really comes through is when Frank pulls over onto the side of the road just after he discovers the life-altering news. As he sits on the curb trying desperately not to break down, choking back tears and vomit, his pain is clearly visible in both his eyes and in his physical anguish, and it exudes off the screen. The strength of Reynolds' performance really heightens this scene, as well as the whole movie, and makes the character and his feelings relatable and evocative for the viewer. Reynolds easily carries the movie, which is even better off because of it.

Chaos Theory is an extremely honest, sometimes sad, always emotional and very real exploration of how a person deals with a drastic change in their life. With a strong and atypical performance from Ryan Reynolds, and enough humor, hope and insight to keep it from being depressing, Chaos Theory is definitely one of the more intelligent films of 2008 and shouldn't be missed.

A Rarity

[zyxek · 7/10 · 16 July 2008]

Chaos Theory is a well-acted comedy that delivers laughs a the right moments while weaving an endearing tale. It never achieves greatness, but it is enjoyable throughout.

Frank Allen (Ryan Reynolds) is a professional speaker who lectures on time management, and his life is perfectly ordered and scheduled, down to the minute. When his wife (Emily Mortimer) sets his clock forward 10 minutes as a joke, his day is thrown off. When he ends up late for an out-of-town lecture, things go awry. A couple of miscommunications leads his wife to question his fidelity, and he ends up making a discovery that causes him to have his own doubts about his family life. Deciding that his strictly ordered life has done him little good, he begins to make multiple choice index cards, choosing one at random and doing what is written on the card.

Reynolds is a very under-appreciated talent, and his work in this film is spot-on. Stuart Townsend gives a strong performance as Frank's best friend, and Matreya Fedor has some great moments as Frank's 7-year old daughter. Sarah Chalke shows up briefly in an interesting role, but she isn't given that much to work with.

The movie is story is well-structured and not entirely predictable, and the pacing and timing are great. The flaw of the film, though, is the third act, which was a little over-the-top for my taste.

But it is a smart and pleasant film overall, perfect for a rental.

A surprising gem

[Gordon-11 · 27 July 2008]

This film is about a very organised man whose life is turned into chaos by an accidental revelation.

Though there are a lot of comedic moments in the film, I think it is more of an drama about Frank finding out that organisation and efficiency does not make him any happier. This realisation and complete personal change is engagingly portrayed throughout the film. Frank's situation connects to the viewers, and easily evokes much sympathy.

The ending is touching and well told. It explores what is more important in life. Is it the job, family or deeper values such as forgiveness? "Chaos Theory" is a surprising gem. It is an engaging, heart warming and yet light hearted and comedic all at the same time. Watch it if you have the chance!

Good performance(s), but I couldn't completely feel the movie vibe

[peter-laganis · 6/10 · 27 May 2019]

Ryan Reynolds did a good job, but unfortunately I couldn't sympathize with his character (Frank). The core of the story isn't' original and it could have been executed better. It felt like some events were completely unscripted and developed (badly) during the filming... and I don't mean spontaneous and nice improvisation. We barely know Frank's wife and (especially) daughter which makes really impossible (in my opinion) to completely understand his emotional trip and feelings. Note that the relation with them is what the whole movie story is about ;) So... if you really come across it, than give it a shot. Otherwise I would rather suggest to watch Definitely, Maybe (2008) - same lead actor, same release year, similar content/story, but definitely a more emotionally engaging movie.

generally charming comedy

[Buddy-51 · 7/10 · 21 December 2008]

Spontaneity is not a highly esteemed commodity in Frank Allen's catalogue of virtues. An efficiency trainer by avocation, Frank is a man whose own life is organized entirely around to-do lists, time charts and abstrusely calculated probabilities. Then, one day Frank becomes a victim of circumstances so utterly beyond his control that he is forced to abandon his old way of thinking and adopt a new philosophy of life altogether, that of throwing caution to the wind and letting his every mercurial whim determine the course of his actions (he shuffles index cards to determine what it is he should do next).

"Chaos Theory," a small but insightful movie written by Daniel Taplitz and directed by Marcos Siega, boasts a cleverly addled storyline, some sharp, witty dialogue and energetic performances by Reynolds, Emily Mortimer and Stuart Townsend, the latter two as Frank's wife and best friend, respectively. The plot complications get pretty hot and heavy at times but, as with all good comedy, things have a way of straightening themselves out in the end.

Though there may be a few too many musical montage sequences in the movie for my taste - they always seem to be used as shortcuts to get the heart soaring or the tear ducts flowing - the movie has a fluidity and charm that raise it above any possible shortcomings. Moreover, the Pacific Northwest setting provides a scenic backdrop for all the amusing shenanigans taking place on center stage.

This man will bring order to the universe...or not.

[mr_popcorn · 7/10 · 2 March 2009]

I can't believe this one flew under my radar for almost two years. Chaos Theory is one of those rare gems in between, you never hear it being talked about but has also built quite a fanbase. Chaos Theory is a quirky, surprising little gem with a great script and an impressive vision. Directed by Marcos Siega (Pretty Persuasion), the movie works on both ends. It has enough comedy to give a chuckle or two and exact amount of drama for the love sick. Ryan Reynolds, whether you love him or hate him, is always the impressive actor and this is by far one of his best on screen performance. Emily Mortimer is always terrific and the elusive Stuart Townsend graces us with his charisma and almost-never-seen talent. This is a rarity of a gem with a great cast and a perfect blend of heartwarming drama and spot-on comedic timing.

However, its never gonna get the wide audience that it deserves mainly because the stars aren't exactly top draws in the box office which is just sad really because the wider audience would rather just watch a dude dressed as a lady in a fatsuit (I'm looking at you Tyler Perry) than real good quality film-making.

Potentially great.

[Panterken · 6/10 · 6 June 2008]

The 'Chaos Theory' credits just started rolling here, actually having some pre-viewing excitement, the writers left me out in the cold. A vast array of smug movie 'experts' utilized the title to point out the movie's big flaw, namely a lack of straight-lined writing. Seeing that the script lacked the necessary hilarity to make it a pure comedy, I'd found it better if they'd stuck with a drama, and it could've been a great one too, that's the sucky part. Round the characters more, explore the potentially great plot lines and you've got a wonderful film script, well worth a watch.

You can divide films I dislike into two categories: films that are simply of poor quality (have one very bad aspect or are bad or mediocre all around) or films that waste their potential. 'Chaos Theory' is the latter, I really liked the premise which is why I watched it in the first place: an over-organized guy, with a perfectly fine job, wife and daughter finds his life turned upside down from one day to the next. The situation so it seems, is out of his control. He has made the safe, smart, responsible decisions all his life yet he winds up in a really messy relationship problem, which convinces him to throw all of the principles he clung onto his whole life overboard. He lives, as a he calls it, a life of 'whim', 'chance' and 'passion'.

Sounds good? Well, it did to me too...too bad it's only a 6/10

Destiny through chaos.

[taysir_t3 · 8/10 · 19 July 2008]

When I first came across this movie, I was expecting some a sort of personal epiphany that drives the main character to some higher state of being. Essentially a rise-to-nirvana style film. Instead I found something much more appealing and deeply human in this film. There's no bad guy, just a family and a friend who's lives are marked with ups and downs.

Without giving anything away, the movie is about love, but not in finding or keeping it. What starts as a misunderstanding between husband and wife develops quickly into a very intense situation. On a deeper level, the plot raises questions about how simply fate (order) and chance (chaos) bring together and break apart two people. Even further, in the long-run, which force wins out? destiny or circumstance?

This movie is a very pleasant departure from Hollywood and something well worth checking into.

7.5/10

Should have kept the chaos in the movie, but left it out of the script

[p-stepien · 6/10 · 15 January 2011]

Frank Allen (Ryan Reynolds), a motivational speaker/writer specialising in the essential meaning of time in work and life, is privy to having a successful little family. Given that his wife basically decided on Frank based on the fact he had the most intriguing name for his penis (Emily Mortimer), this is quite a freakish accomplishment in itself. They have a beautiful 7-year-old girl Jesse, who is the crown jewel of Frank's life. That is until a series of chance events have him discover that he has been sterile since birth. The revelation casts into chaos not only his marriage, but also his well-organised way of life.

Ryan Reynolds seems to do miles better, when drafted into roles that are more down-to-earth quirky personas. Despite his apparent fandom his attempts at stardom in comiccy roles severely hurt his acting creds, as despite whatever some people in casting believe his comedic timing for one-liners is not good. However Reynolds has a depth in emotion for a comedian, that places him above most other competitors. And that's why Reynolds is a tour-de-force in this romantic comedy with a strong dramatic touch. At least for 2/3 of the movie his performance is captivating and convincing. Coupled with some really fun scenes and relatively inventive ideas behind the script for the most part the movie comes off as a real gem.

That is until the final third. Unfortunately for the movie the scriptwriters chickened out of keeping the situation morally ambiguous - and hence realistic. Instead they decide to keep it safe, when it turns out that Jesse was conceived a couple of days before they were even dating... Despite this feedback Frank is still committed to killing the real father and his best friend... which basically doesn't make sense. The whole script quickly unravels, when the whole plot gets ridiculed in order to keep it 'civil' and by the last couple of scenes interest in the resolution fizzles out. The movie drops any pretence of having some real dramatic message to convey and resorts back to more or less senseless ha-ha's with your obligatory happy-ending.

Very much a shame, but on the plus side I really enjoyed the performances in the movie and would really prefer to see much more of Reynolds in this type of role and less as Barakapool or Green Panties.

What is everyone smokin?

[jakebrann · 2/10 · 31 March 2020]

20 minutes in and I can't even stand to watch any more of this movie. I hate movies where something stupid happens and the other person's spouse/partner won't listen to them or let them explain anything. You sit there yelling at the TV for the person to "just spit it out already and tell the person the truth and what happened!" I can't even finish this movie!

REVIEW -- Finally a romantic comedy for the rest of us!

[jujube666 · 10/10 · 28 March 2008]

I'm not a big romantic comedy fan so I went to Chaos Theory with low expectations. Which is why I was shocked to find myself not only laughing (instead of eye-rolling) but also experiencing a certain moisture in the ocular region.

Yes it is a comedy -- most anal, hyper organized guy totally losing it vintage Steve Martin style with a post-modern twist when he discovers his perfect life is not what it seems. But it's also a story about a guy losing himself, his wife, his daughter, his best friend and everything through a freakish but medically accurate twist of fate and fighting his way back to find himself.

The directing has an indie feel which I much prefer over the overly processed studio fare -- lots of long takes that really draw you into the characters. Ryan Reynolds is hilarious -- great physical comedy but also achieves a whole new level of sincerity. Emily Mortimer has some great spastic moments -- and, in a departure from her usual twinkle toes persona, isn't afraid to show her grumpy side. By the end of the movie, I really felt like I knew these guys. I also really enjoyed the humor -- which had a lot of those "Oh God, I've been there" moments even when the story was ratcheting up to outrageousness.

Go to see it for the shot of buck-naked Ryan Reynolds skidding across the hockey rink if nothing else!

Liked this positive film.

[AshokePrabha · 7/10 · 14 June 2008]

This is 2008 and we start to see crisis everywhere. Economic crisis in US, food crisis all over the world affecting badly the third world countries, earth quake in China and the cyclone floods in Myanmar.

Chaos theory is a theory about highly unstable, dynamically changing complex systems. It says many of such complex random motions may have some identifiable patterns of behavior though they appear to be random. One real time example about this is the 'weather'. It appears randomly changing. But it is not. Lot of other initial factors those might have occurred quite a long time back(say 100 years) do affect the current weather. This is what I could understand from the detailed wikipedia article.

The movie is about a normal 9 - 5 office going family man(Ryan Renolds) who's life suddenly takes into wild turns and become chaotic. Though everything looked bad and led to a dead-end, he finds some light(initiator) and brings back his life and his town to some liveliness. The story is just that. But the meanings it convey is about taking life at odd times. The voice overs of Danny Devito were good. He also acted in this movie but I did not see his name in the star cast list. Ryan does fit perfectly into his role. And other characters too. The romance between Ryan and the shop counter girl(Emily) was indeed a lovable one. This movie also reveals me that lower and lower-middle class people's lives are same everywhere. No matter the country it is. It could be the richest America or Britain or any. Doesn't matter.

This movie is neither a tear-jerker nor a belly-aching comedy. Its a drama. If you like to see how people want to to go on with positive things with life then watch it.

silly sitcom setup

[SnoopyStyle · 5/10 · 6 March 2015]

Jesse Allen (Elisabeth Harnois) is getting married but her groom Ed (Mike Erwin) has cold feet. He finds out that she was with somebody else when they broke up. Her father Frank (Ryan Reynolds) finds him sneaking out the back door and sits him down for a talk. He tells him about his life with his wife Susan (Emily Mortimer), womanizing best friend Buddy Endrow (Stuart Townsend) and Paula Crowe (Sarah Chalke).

There is a slight comedic tone in the movie that is ill-fitting. The story struggles to get going. The characters are not that appealing. The misunderstanding is ridiculously stupid. It feels like a silly sitcom. When Frank goes crazy, the movie gets better. If only the movie can figure out how to get there without the silly setup.

Enjoyable

[imdbbl · 29 November 2009]

Chaos Theory is an enjoyable little film that tells the story of Frank Allen (Ryan Reynolds) who's a professional speaker that gives lectures on time management,and his life is perfectly ordered and scheduled.One day his wife sets his clock forward 10 minutes thinking that she had just done the opposite and Frank's day is thrown off.First he arrives late to an out-of-town lecture and then his life starts to unravels in ways he never expected.Along the way he makes several interesting discoveries about his family and comes to the conclusion that being so obsessive, so organized and so uptight did nothing for his life. Smart and well thought, Chaos Theory is enjoyable throughout although it never reaches greatness.There are a few interesting ideas and a lot of potential and the movie could definitely have been taken to another level but still, its a solid movie.The film is very well balanced; it delivers some laughs at the right time,but also has a very serious and dramatic side as well.The soundtrack is was surprisingly very good and its composed mainly by independent bands. Ryan Reynolds is tremendous as the lead character,Frank, and completely believable.He's the driving force of the movie and a pleasure to watch.Stuart Townsend and Emily Mortimer did good too as the best friend and the wife respectively . All in all,Chaos Theory is only slightly above average but still worth seeing.

7/10

Although at first...

[orcunvurmaz · 7/10 · 21 May 2011]

Although at first, you will think about this movie's genre as being action, Chaos Theory is actually quite an entertaining movie about family and marriage, about friendship and misunderstandings. It takes up the subject of how one misunderstanding can lead to another and the consequences that follow. It tells the story of how things can change in an instant and how one little thing can be the reason for everything else happening. It's hard to tell that was this is a drama or a comedy. In my point of view it blends the both genres in a mediocre way. It is a great movie. Everything is so real that you can relate with each and every event in the movie. Ryan Reynolds is perfectly cast as obsessive organizer Frank. The rest of the cast were also great. And together with the fantastic soundtrack they made this movie into an entertainment and a worthwhile experience. Emily Mortimer played great as the wife and Matreya Fedor was great as the daughter. Together they made a family worth watching. I think it is a great movie with a good message of letting loose and living your life. They teach you that you shouldn't interrupt conversations and you should listen to what the other person has to say before you add something. Chaos Theory is above average. It is unusual, funny at times, emotional at times and scores high marks for its search into the dramatic side of life changing events. Definitely it is better than what one might expect. I give this movie seven to ten and it deserves to be watched. I am sure that you'll enjoy very much and never be bored in any minute of this movie. Some of the scenes will be unforgettable for you. Highly recommended. Have a nice time when watching.

Drama movie not comedy not funny

[lskknl · 6/10 · 24 March 2022]

It's an okay drama movie but not a comedy. It's not funny at all. Takes some time to getting into. A twist in the plot. Ryan renolds plays an organized freak. It's not a laugh out comedy more subtle. Not comedy It's more of a drama. It's well acted. Ryan reynolds is a good actor so serious in this role.

Almost Paradise

[rotildao · 7/10 · 13 June 2008]

You can't wrong with this movie. It is a crowd pleaser and as part of a certain crowd, I was as well.

The film follows the old time comedies style, from Frank Capra till Charles Crichton, giving us slight deja-vu moments of "I've seen it before" without making itself boring or repetitive. And perhaps yes, we all did, or still do in some ways. And that's the good thing about the film. Although it has an universal theme the film never tries to be pretentious and fool us with surprise endings. We are dealing with a "safe-net" act, where we feel as rookie-acrobats guided by great instructors who really wants us to become part of the great show of life.

Being politically correct never felt closer to chaos in the last 10 years, I would say. And complete chaos might bring one you down to Earth with a satisfactory thought of being almost in paradise.

A must see , hear and laugh.

8.5 out of 10.

Clever, but misses its potential

[bigbillythefish92 · 7/10 · 21 November 2009]

"Chaos Theory" is the story of Ryan Reynold's character, Frank Allen, reminiscing back to his younger and crazy years as a man who--well, wasn't so crazy in the beginning. You see, Frank Allen is a prioritizer. And not just a regular one: he prioritizes EVERY single area of his life. But one day, his perfect little life is sent out of control when his wife sets the clock ten minutes later than it really should be. Things are never the same for Frank again.

He is sent on a zany journey which makes him jump through multiple hoops and teaches him, in the end, that love is the only thing that can't be prioritized. It's outside of the bounds of time, and just happens. A very run-of-the-mill lesson.

What makes this film special is not the lesson it's intended to present, which has already been handed to us in so many different forms anyways, but the way it executes each scene and event that leads up to that lesson. Daniel Taplitz writes a clever, oh-so comic script that will enrapture any audience with its humor and randomness. Ryan Reynolds nails his part, from every subtle, yet distinctive expression he gives to his suaveness.

What this film fails to give to the audience, however, is..emotion. In between Frank Allen's long, bizarre journey in which he struggles to prioritize things to go his way, but learns in the end that only true love (not his prioritizing) can bring him and his wife together, there are a few moments that are thrown in that are supposed to be emotional (characters weeping, heads held close), and they just don't click. To suddenly and very abruptly switch from comedy to drama takes a true artist of precision. Judd Apatow does it with "Funny People," but Chaos Theory, even with its clever writing, can't seem to pull it off.

Overall, even with its generic moral and failure to pluck the strings of the audiences' heart, Chaos Theory is still a clever, pleasurable film. If only it could've had more time in the script-writing process and a little better direction, though...

If you enjoy movies that involve laughter and tears, this is it.

[LFel84 · 8/10 · 8 May 2008]

I saw this movie in the theaters about a month ago and even with the busted speaker that produced an annoying buzzing sound and the idiot who decided to show up on his death bed sneezing, hacking, and coughing throughout the entire film I STILL enjoyed it and so did the other people with me. As a girl I automatically have a soft spot for Ryan Reynolds, I want him and his amazing six pack to do well but all that aside this was a really good project he chose to do. Also that funny tall skinny blonde chick from scrubs is in the film and holds her own on the big screen. The movie is funny, but in a smart and heartwarming way, but not too heart warming and not too smart where you start thinking, "Wow that was such a cool thing to say. . . but nobody talks like that." It doesn't overstay its welcome and comes around full circle in its story without leaving you feeling unsatisfied. A must see whether you like Ryan and his beautiful six pack or not.

Chaos

[j-vanunnik · 7/10 · 29 June 2008]

Chaos Theory... Interesting title, attractive cover, interesting storyline. Seems OK, but isn't this like 'one of those many movies'. That was my first feeling.

So, at first, this film didn't seem to be a lot to me. But I started watching it and first of all, the title fits the film so well. I really got into the story and the chaos in my head, as following the complicated and frustrating storyline, got so big, I kind of freaked out and was like who cares?! Forget about it! Start clean! Just like...

The actors, they totally fit their roles in the film. They are doing a great job together with the films perfect blend of a 'trying to be serious' storyline, humor, and...

CHAOS!

Knots In My Stomach

[jahremusic · 3/10 · 8 January 2011]

Chaos Theory is a story about choices, and the impact that each choice can have in a person's life. Frank's dilemma begins when he leaves 10 minutes late to present at a seminar. His wife set the clocks back in a misguided attempt to help him. From this point, his very structured life begins to unravel as he and his wife deal with mutual anger and misunderstandings with each other.

It's a fair dramedy, with many dark moments. I think that some of the subject matter was too dark for a romantic comedy genre. It tends to make the movie very uneven as it tries to go for funny moments with the coarse, tragic subject matter. I noticed that I was too hung up on the unfolding story to laugh at moments that may well have been funny in another setting.

I also had a real problem with Frank's wife. From her public challenge to find a suitor among her male friends, I found her to be annoying and conceded. As I found out more about her through the choices that she made and continued to make in the movie, I really found no reason to like her at all, let alone see a genuine reason for Frank to love her. The end of the story really seemed forced and trite. It seemed like Frank really just loved his daughter, and his wife was just an inconvenient afterthought. Really, I would think that a story with so many dark points would survive a more realistic ending between the husband and wife. It seemed like the writer was too timid to do that, and went for the Hollywood ending instead.

Also, the presentation of the story to Frank's daughter's bridegroom seemed like a horrible route. Was this story meant to settle this young man's nerves? What would this young man think of this family after hearing this story? The bridegroom was desperately trying to leave to get some air and take a walk. If I were him I would've preferred the walk.

Oddly enough though, I think that this was the best, most dramatic performance by Ryan Reynolds. It's too bad that such a performance was wasted on such uneven material. I think that with the right material, he could really be seen as a good, well-rounded actor. Unfortunately, this ain't it.

My wife gave this 7 stars. I guess she didn't have the problems that I did, but I also suspect that she has the hots for Ryan Reynolds. ;) As for me, I gave it 3 stars only for the performance of the actors. The story, subject matter and screenplay literally gave me knots in my stomach.

Average Fare (with some flare)

[finding-something · 8/10 · 13 December 2008]

Let's get my bias out of the way first. Ryan Reynolds can do no wrong. I think he's as close to a Cary Grant as we'll get ever again. His face, and the many expressions it can make, are perfect for both drama and comedy, and he seems perfectly willing to commit to both extremes. In fact, in this movie, he's able to turn the tone of the movie in an instant. Oh right, he's also incredibly attractive.

Frank (Reynolds) is an efficiency expert whose day has been thrown off. The irony of being late to his own lecture on time management is not lost on him either. Through a serious of less than fortunate events, Frank manages to mount up enough circumstantial evidence of his committing adultery at least once, that his wife throws him out.

The twist, when it comes, is not altogether unexpected, but the material is treated with a humanity that makes you happy to keep watching. In one scene, Frank is streaking across a hockey rink and in another, his and Susan's (Mortimer's) foreheads are touching, and their muted sobs are pulling at heartstrings no mere romantic comedy would ever be able to play. The sort of climax of the movie is quite superb. You see great dramedic acting, and a clever script to boot. No, not a clever script, but a sincere one. Its writing makes this movie more of a comedic romance than a romantic comedy. If you don't understand that distinction, you will after watching this movie.

A enjoyable romantic- comedy movie...

[nizamettin_kutlucan90 · 7/10 · 7 June 2011]

When I saw the name of movie, I thought it was a science-fiction but it is actually a romantic comedy. The movie includes both comedic scenes and dramatic plot. In movie there are some parts I like very much and there are some parts which are really insignificant. Frank's wife Susan is characterless. She says she loves Frank and marries him but she deceives him with Frank's best friend and has a baby but it is not Frank's child. But then Frank learns from doctor that he can not have baby. He can not be father and the lies of Susan come to the end. Despite all bad news, lies Frank decides to live with Susan again and he does not tell the truth his (stepdaughter). Living with Susan despite these things, I conclude that Frank is a foolish guy. He loves a woman who does not deserve his love and I think he keeps the marriage only for his child. If I were Frank, I leave Susan, take my child and begin a new life with my child. During the movie and after the movie I could not understand anything from Susan. She claims that she loves Frank but the she makes a lot of ridiculous things. But why she does that? Even now, I do not know the answer. The part I like very much in the movie is Frank's index cards. He prepares cards and chooses one of them and keeps going his life according the result of the card which he chooses. He chooses his fate, he does not get effected by someone when decide to do something and it is very logical for me. After watching movie, I sometimes prepare same cards to decide something. Lastly it is well- done film and if you want to watch a movie includes drama, comedy and romanticism each other, try it.

Cliché after cliché, with no heart

[samstoia · 1/10 · 16 April 2009]

A friend of mine had this crush on Ryan Reynolds, so without knowing what this movie was going to be like, (the back said something about being a hilarious and heartfelt COMEDY) I thought, it has Reynolds, so it will probably have it's moments.

I thought wrong. Emily Mortemer gives one of the most uninspiring roles I have ever seen an actress play, the plot is cliché, and after about 20 or so minutes in, there is not even a hint of comedy to be found. On the other hand, a lack of comedy would not be a disappointment if there was some charm or drama to take it's place, but what is left is an uninspired, and just generally unassuming movie which becomes painful to sit through. The characters have no soul, the movie (titled CHAOS THEORY) is boring and predictable, and really fails at any hint of comedy.

Reading some of the other reviews, it seems some other people enjoyed it. I was not one of them, and those are my two cents.