With Summer well and truly behind us, we have entered that lull period in the cinematic calendar, where the smaller budgeted and indie flicks have a chance to shine before Winter kicks in, bringing with it the usual batch of kids movies, big budget actioners and epics on course for Oscar glory. With the few exceptions **cough Taken 2 cough**, this Autumn's crop is better than previous years, and that trend continues with Ruby Sparks, a totally unique romantic comedy from Jonathon Dayton and Valerie Faris, the director of Little Miss Sunshine.
At age 19, Calvin Weir-Fields (Paul Dano) wrote a novel that became an instant critical and financial hit. Ten years later, he is a neurotic mess, struggling with writers block brought on by the pressures of writing a follow-up of equal quality. When he dreams of his ideal woman, Ruby Sparks (Zoe Kazan), he is inspired to write about her, realizing he is falling in love with her. To his surprise, Ruby manifests in real life, just as he wrote her, and totally besotted with him. But Calvin soon realizes that getting exactly what you want brings its own set of complications.
Anchored by a fantastic script from Kazan, this is a smart, sharply funny, and terrifically acted piece of cinema, though I will admit it took a while for me to digest it fully. Hell, I have sat it front of this computer for hours, dissecting it, finding parts that I initially disliked coming into focus, and appreciating them better. It's the type of movie that stays with you, and goes up in your estimation the more you think on it. It takes it's time to get going, a bit too much time some might say, but when the story hits it's stride and Ruby makes her appearance, it's full steam ahead. The early scenes are full of wonderful, subtle humour as Calvin tries to get his head around the situation, and seeing his and Ruby's relationship blossom is quite sweet. It is helped by a very naturalistic camera, that makes the audience feel they are part of proceedings. As the cracks start to form, the tone gets a little bit darker, but still retains alot of humour. As it heads towards its heart breaking finale, the story does get predictable, but it's nothing you can hold against it.
Paul Dano proves again what a fantastic actor he is, making you care about Calvin even as he morphs into the petulant child who won't let you play with his favorite toy, and there is fine support, from an especially sleazy Steve Coogan, Annette Benning, and Antonio Banderas (his scene with Scotty the dog is hilarious). But this is Kazan's show. She proves to be a fantastic actress, playing Ruby in a variety of different ways, and making her feel like a totally different character each time. If her star doesn't rise after this, there is something very wrong with the world.
A unique and touching take on the well worn romantic comedy formula, Ruby Sparks is well worth parting with you hard earned cash for. I just hope it takes you less time to fully appreciate it than it for me.
