There’s a whole clan of devoted viewers out there who are missing How I Met Your Mother. Can you blame them, the show had a handful of intriguing elements and a compelling cast. From Barney’s (Neil Patrick Harris) shenanigans and catchphrases, to running gags like the slap bet, there was so much to get into. It’s been a little over a decade since the series called it a day, yet it still holds a major cultural significance.
So, if you’ve binged it for the umpteenth time and are looking for something to fill the void, you’re in luck. Released in 2008, a cute little Rom-Com titled Definitely, Maybe tapped into some of the core elements of How I Met Your Mother. Starring none other than Ryan Reynolds, Will Hayes is a Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) of sorts. He’s, yet another dad recounting the story of ‘how he met her mother’ to his 10-year-old daughter Maya (played by Abigail Breslin). While it’s an hour 51 minutes as opposed to How I Met Your Mother’s nine seasons, it’s still a great fix.
What Is ‘Definitely, Maybe’ About?
While it bears a keen semblance to How I Met Your Mother, it’s safe to say that Definitely, Maybe is a whole other beast. Here, Reynolds plays Will Hayes, a New York based political consultant who’s smack in the middle of a divorce. This time around, it would seem that his daughter prompts him to tell her how her parents got together. In the same vein as How I Met Your Mother, Will doesn’t choose the linear route with his story. Rather, he weaves an intricate tale and even changes the names of his three significant ex-girlfriends. At the end of it all, that leaves Maya to guess which one eventually became her mother.
Definitely, Maybe goes a long way to involve Maya in the tale as well. Along the line, she asks questions, offers insights and has real-time reactions. So, it’s safe to say that this is as much about her as it is about her parent’s love lives. Altogether, the film was well-received and got some pretty great remarks from critics. With a 71% critic score and 72% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s safe to say it didn’t do too shabbily. Critics even commended it for “breathing new life into old formulas,” which is high praise in any circle. The real proof of its success is that it grossed $9.8 million from 2,204 theaters in the United States and Canada in its opening weekend. It eventually grossed $56 million globally.
‘Definitely, Maybe’ Is a Love Story on More Than One Level
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If you really get into it, Definitely, Maybe has all the elements of a swoony rom-com. There are the parts where Reynolds character digs into the nuances of each of his meaningful relationships. With Emily (Elizabeth Banks) Will shared the safety and idealism that comes with first love. Everything is peachy between them besides the fact that he has big city ambitions and she simply doesn’t. Their puppy love eventually goes down the drain when they realize that their life decisions are tugging them in opposite directions.
His relationship with Summer (Rachel Weisz) certainly different. This time around, it’s built on a shared zest for new experience and mutual professional respect. It’s safe to say that their is passionate pairing and perhaps the flames burnt a tad too hot. At the end of the day, a difference in values and priorities was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Then there’s Isla Fisher’s April whose bond with Will grows over time. They’re coworkers who eventually become friends who later become more than friends. Compared to his other relationships this one is more of a slow burn. But not unlike the others it ends because they ultimately pull each other in different directions.
However, that’s not where it ends, it also speaks to the emotional connection between a father and his daughter. Ultimately, his stories are a way to connect to his daughter. All the while, he helps her understand the complicated nature of romance. Then at the same time softens the blow of his impending divorce to her mother. So, whether he ends up with her mother or not, Maya gains a deeper understanding of her parent’s decisions.
If you have a hankering for some How I Met Your Mother-esque magic, stream Definitely, Maybe on Prime Video.
