Without spoiling anything, Ruby Sparks is an engaging spin on the typical romantic comedy.
As a very young man, Calvin Weir-Fields (Paul Dano) wrote a critically and financially successful novel. He has been unable to recreate that same success with a follow-up. Actually, he hasn’t even attempted a follow-up. Feeling the pressure of his creative slump and the stress it’s put on his romantic life, Calvin begins to see a therapist, Dr. Rosenthal (Elliott Gould).
Dr. Rosenthal suggests a writing exercise for Calvin: Write about the type of person who would like his dog just for being a dog. Calvin scoffs at the idea but then he has a dream about a girl named Ruby (Zoe Kazan.) The girl is the embodiment of everything he’s wanted in a partner. She’s smart, funny, attractive, and has a bit of a tainted past. As he continues to dream about her nightly, Calvin feverishly writes down everything from his dreams. And then one morning, Calvin awakens to find Ruby is in his kitchen making him eggs. He’s not dreaming but he thinks he might be going crazy.
Ruby Sparks explores — comedically, at first — the fact that Calvin’s writing has breathed life into a human being. When Calvin explains Ruby’s origins to his brother (Chris Messina,) all his brother can do is think of the possibilities of having control over a woman’s appearance and sex drive. But, as the film progresses, Ruby is warmly accepted by other people, including Calvin’s family, in a way that Calvin himself hasn’t. Calvin begins to struggle with Ruby’s desire to have more freedom.
The script, written by Zoe Kazan, smartly tackles the clichéd “manic pixie dream girl” characterization head-on. Ruby is a flawed character but she’s the product of a flawed character. When Ruby starts to explore beyond Calvin’s boundaries and control, that’s when the problems start. Rather than existing solely to fix Calvin like a typical manic pixie dream girl character would, Ruby wants to be an independent person.
Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan possess crackling on-screen chemistry that sells the relationship immensely. (I didn’t know until after my screening that they are, in fact, a real couple.) The supporting cast, including Annette Bening and Antonio Banderas, are uniformly excellent.
Without spoiling anything, Ruby Sparks is an engaging spin on the typical romantic comedy. While adding fantasy elements to a romance is nothing new, Kazan’s script allows the characters to be more realistic than one might expect. The dramatic elements may bring the film down a bit for some and, for others, they might not go far enough. I think they make Ruby Sparks a thought-provoking little movie that’s worth seeing.
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Buy on Amazon!
