Paper Heart
by Nicholas Jasenovec
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DVD details
Actor: Charlyne Yi, Derek Waters, Martin Starr, Michael Cera, Seth RogenDirector: Nicholas Jasenovec
Brand: Fox
Composer: Charlyne Yi
Composer: Michael Cera
Cinematographer: Jay Hunter
Editor: Ryan Brown
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 88 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2009-12-01
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
DVD Reviews of Paper Heart
DVD Review: Curious Premise Betrayed by Weak Execution
Summary: 3 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
One of the surprise hits of 2009 was "(500) Days of Summer", which turned out to be one of the strongest and most innovative romantic comedies released in the past five years. The film casts off the formulaic chains of the genre and becomes something more, an important milestone in the evolution of contemporary rom-coms. Not only is the film a music-lover's delight (filled with killer tracks like Regina Spektor's "Us", The Temper Trap's "Sweet Disposition" and a smattering of Smiths classics), the unique non-linear narrative structure and the wonderfully soulful performances of Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt elevated this film to the top of many professional critics (and my own) "Best of 2009" lists.
"Paper Heart" was conceived with similar intentions, it has the quirky sense of humor, the often awkward moments of young romance, a focus on music, and the unique narrative structure, with the story presented here in the form of a mockumentary. Charlene Yi is a curious choice for the lead, as she alternates between charmingly cute and outright annoying throughout the course of the film. Michael Cera, playing Yi's love interest, is a more reliable actor yet often appears confused and uninterested. I'll offer the benefit of a doubt here and assume his performance was intended to give off the effect of being in-the-moment, rather than seeming as if he regrets signing the contract for "Paper Heart". The film follows a pattern of random people musing with Yi about things related to love, some are celebrities (Seth Rogen, Demetri Martin) while others include an Elvis impersonator and a middle-aged fellow playing pool with Yi whilst discussing his love for his ex-wife.
The crux of the film hinges on a burgeoning romance between Yi and Cera which is supposed to contrast with her cynical views on relationships. This is an interesting idea, and certain sections of the film are rather engrossing, unfortunately many of the scenes are so painfully contrived, I nearly felt compelled to move on to something else. Case in point, when Yi visits the zoo to "capture how animals express their version of love". Of course, before long Cera ambles into the scene to supposedly add humor by taking an aside with the director and joking about it all being a "deleted scene". Alternately, a highlight is the first date of Yi and Cera, which features this amusing exchange:
Cera: Do you live around here?
Yi: (smiling) I don't wanna tell you where I live. I don't trust you.
Cera: Oh, okay. You don't have to, I can look it up.
Yi: (surprised) Look it up? Is it on the internet?
Cera: I can ask...someone.
Yi: You'd do that?
Cera: (nodding) Probably.
I must take exception with those who criticize their relationship, particularly the oft-repeated notion that the two have no "chemistry". Keeping in mind that both are quite young actors, Cera and Yi make an extremely cute onscreen couple, as they both adroitly captured the wonder, magic, and outright awkwardness of teenage love quite wonderfully. It was this element that endeared the picture to me, along with the unique device of using cheap paper and cloth cutouts of figures to illustrate some of the love tales told by the various interviewees.
This technique works because it isn't overused and is entirely more interesting than simply watching someone's face as they speak, though it would've worked better with slicker production values. This is one of those elements that's supposed to be funny because it's so amateurish, much like the bulk of the film is supposed to be funny because everything is so awkward and amateurish. I've used the word "awkward" at least three times so far, because that's the overwhelming feeling I'm left with at the end. I can, with a shrug, recommend a rental, as it's good enough not to be dismissed as hipster rubbish, but not nearly interesting enough to reward repeat viewings. Of course, this is assuming you've already seen the much superior "(500) Days of Summer" and desire another amusing, quirky, out-of-left-field celluloid rumination on the mysteries of love and relationships.
Description of Paper Heart
Charlyne Yi does not believe in love. Or so she says. Well, at the very least, she doesn?t believe in fairy-tale love or the Hollywood mythology of love, and her own experiences have turned her into yet another modern-day skeptic.Follow Charlyne across America as she and her good friend (and director) Nicholas Jasenovec search for answers and advice about love, by talking with friends and strangers, scientists, bikers, romance novelists, and children. They each offer diverse views on modern romance, as well as various answers to the age-old question: does true love really exist? Charlyne?s pursuit to discover the nature of love takes on a fresh new urgency when she meets a boy after her own heart: Michael Cera. As their relationship develops on camera, her pursuit risks losing the person she finds closest to her heart.
Combining elements of documentary and traditional storytelling, reality and fantasy, Paper Heart brings a fresh perspective to the modern romance and redefines the classic love story.
A creatively self-conscious comedy that is part real documentary and part, well, something else, Paper Heart begins as an inquiry by artist and comedian Charlyne Yi into the nature of love. Working closely with pal and director Nicholas Jasenovec, Yi travels the U.S. looking for anyone who will talk to her about their experiences with or perspectives about love. Along the way, she meets some wonderful people, including older folks, children, and even a celebrity (Seth Rogen) or two. But nothing shakes Yi's skepticism that there is such a thing as permanent, romantic love until actor Michael Cera (Juno) stumbles into her on-camera life. Shy but curious about one another, Cera and Yi cautiously hook up, troubled by the omnipresence of Jasenovec and his crew but unable to get free of Yi's agreement to allow everything to be filmed. The very pressure under which they try to make their simmering relationship work becomes the test Yi needs to believe that love is real--or, at least, cleverly scripted. It's hard to know exactly where the line is between documentary and fiction in this film, but in a way it doesn't matter. A point or two is made, and the audience gets to enjoy Yi's cardboard-cutout puppetry. --Tom Keogh
Stills from Paper Heart (Click for larger image)
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