- Film Review
- Reviewed By Stella Papamichael
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3 out of 5
The makers of Little Miss Sunshine experiment with some light melancholy in this fascinating fantasy. Paul Dano stars as creatively frustrated writer Calvin Weir-Fields, whose dream woman (played by Dano's real-life girlfriend Zoe Kazan) suddenly comes to life in his kitchen. Kazan (granddaughter of On the Waterfront director Elia Kazan) also wrote the screenplay, which takes a high-concept, whimsical approach that isn't concerned with the whys or wherefores of this strange occurrence. It simply offers a convenient route into Calvin's mind, where he grapples with self-doubt, narcissism and an obsessive need for control. Meanwhile Kazan sends up the ideal of the lovable kook that populates many a Hollywood romantic comedy, literally bouncing off the walls in one scene. A spirit of mischief - also personified in small roles by Steve Coogan, Antonio Banderas and Annette Bening - helps to temper the angst of Dano's performance, but at crucial moments the balance tips too far one way or the other. On the whole, however, the movie, like the perfect romantic heroine, is full of charm.
Plot Summary
An author struggling with his second novel writes about his dream woman, only to find he has somehow willed her into existence. They begin a relationship, but he discovers he can influence what she does by writing about her, and gives in to the temptation to manipulate her behaviour to suit his needs. Fantasy drama, starring Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan and Annette Bening.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Calvin Weir-Fields
- Paul Dano
- Ruby Sparks
- Zoe Kazan
- Harry
- Chris Messina
- Gertrude
- Annette Bening
- Mort
- Antonio Banderas
- Cyrus Modi
- Aasif Mandvi
- Langdon Tharp
- Steve Coogan
- Susie
- Toni Trucks
- Mabel
- Alia Shawkat
- Lila
- Deborah Ann Woll
- Dr Rosenthal
- Elliott Gould
- Warren
- Wallace Langham
Crew
- Director
- Jonathan Dayton
- Director
- Valerie Faris
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