Paper Man is a film that I felt completely went under the radar when it received a limited release in April 2010. MPI is releasing the DVD (and Blu-Ray) of the film, and hopes that the title gains cult status. At a quick glance, the cast is strong enough to match that of a Farrelly Brothers or Apatow flick; Kieran Culkan, Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone, and Jeff Daniels all play important parts in the movie. Paper Man surrounds the oft-suffering Richard Dunn (Jeff Daniels), a writer that has a tremendous lack in the success department. Lisa Kudrow plays Dunn’s wife, Claire, a doctor whose success seems to get at Richard much more than it should. Confronted with a lack of success in eir career and an inferiority complex brought on by eir wife, Richard is forced to converse with an imaginary friend, Captain Excellent (Reynolds).
A little immature, Richard’s life choices drastically change when ey meets Abby (Stone), a teen that seems to provide inspiration in a way that eir current life cannot. Paper Man is the combination of these interactions, and the variety of roles here serve the film’s eclectic feel. While the film itself is a comedy, there are also some heart-touching moments present. MPI’s release of the film (we reviewed the DVD) showcases a similar type of love for the film. The audio quality is excellent, allowing the dialogue to shine through nicely without removing the natural noises and ambiance present in real life. The video quality is similarly solid. The added features make a purchase all the easier, too.
There are quite a few deleted scenes present in a single montage, while there is an intricate set of interviews conducted with the cast and crew that will further increase a viewer’s love for the film. Paper Man can easily fill the role of a comedy that has everything for everyone, without veering too much in the romantic or gross-out comedy veins.
Rating: 8.0/10
Paper Man (DVD) / 2011 MPI / 110 Minutes / http://www.mpihomevideo.com
