Ryan Reynolds continues his segue from jokey put-on artist to grown-up leading man in “Chaos Theory,” which plays as the second half of a one-two punch that began with “Definitely, Maybe.”
Reynolds plays Frank Allen, the buttoned-down author of a self-help best-seller called “The Five Minute Efficiency Trainer.” He makes lists of all his daily activities, and he sticks to his rigorous schedules.
This amuses his wife (Emily Mortimer), who throws him off schedule one day when he’s supposed to give a lecture elsewhere. His ensuing panic is the jumping-off point for a plot about a man newly liberated from his controlled lifestyle.
Daniel Taplitz’s screenplay depends on a series of sitcom events and reactions, but if you roll with the movie a little, it’s enjoyable enough. Some early slapstick involving a lusty stranger (Sarah Chalke, from “Scrubs”) and a pregnant woman gives way to a bittersweet tone, after Frank gets a piece of news that changes his world.
That shift in tone is interesting, and at times director Marcos Siega (whose film “Pretty Persuasion” was kind of interesting) hints at larger ambitions. The film, shot in Vancouver, B.C., looks good, too.
The movie has some weak spots, for sure. Given his family-man status, Frank’s embrace of life’s randomness is a stretch. Stuart Townsend, as Frank’s best friend, doesn’t register strongly and doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who’d spend much time with Frank. And Brit actress Emily Mortimer is wasted, but she usually is.
So you have to be a pretty big Ryan Reynolds fan to put up with this. A distinctive personality — something like the love child of Chevy Chase and Jim Carrey, but with a serious side — Reynolds has crack timing and an effortless way of moving on screen. He should be getting the roles that Ben Affleck used to get.
Of course, most of the roles Ben Affleck took strangled his acting career. So here’s hoping Reynolds chooses a little more wisely.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
