Chaos Theory (2007/I)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Marcos Siega

Writer (WGA):

Daniel Taplitz (written by)

Release Date:

26 October 2007 (Japan)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

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

Plot:

The story of an obsessively organized efficiency expert whose life unravels in unexpected ways when fate forces him to explore the serendipitous nature of love and forgiveness.

Plot Keywords:

Groom | Medical Test | Wedding | Lake | Shotgun

Cast

Ryan Reynolds	...	Frank Allen
Emily Mortimer	...	Susan Allen
Stuart Townsend	...	Buddy Endrow
Sarah Chalke	...	Paula Crowe
Mike Erwin	...	Ed
Constance Zimmer	...	Peg the Teacher
Matreya Fedor	...	Jesse Allen (7 years)
Elisabeth Harnois	...	Jesse Allen
Chris William Martin	...	Damon
Jovanna Huguet	...	Maid of Honor
Christopher Jacot	...	Simon / Best Man
Alessandro Juliani	...	Ken
Lisa Calder	...	Sherri
Ty Olsson	...	Evil Ferryman
Jocelyne Loewen	...	Pregnant Nancy

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, sexual content and language.

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Finland:K-7 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Squamish, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Land Films

Goofs:

Continuity: At the very end, when Frank is talking to Ed right before the ceremony, Frank's hair is very gray. When they walk down the aisle, Frank's hair is very brown, not much hint of gray.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Jesse Allen: [to Maid of Honor, while wearing wedding dress] Give it to me straight: virginal bride or slut in white?

Movie Connections:

References "Mister Ed" (1961)

Soundtrack:

Electric Harmony

Average Fare (with some flare)

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.