Ruby Sparks

Director: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris

Cast: Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Antonio Banderas, Annette Bening, Steve Coogan, Elliott Gould, Chris Messina

Genre: Comedy/Romance 2011

Running time: 104 mins.

Rating:★★½ 

Struggling with writer's block and a lackluster love life, once-famous novelist (Paul Dano) creates a beautiful fictional character named Ruby (Zoe Kazan) who inspires him. But not only does this bring his work to life...it also brings Ruby to life...literally! Face-to-face with an actual relationship with his once-virtual girlfriend, Calvin must now decide whether to pen this love story or let it write itself.

Calvin is a very insecure and depressed writer in a rut and feeling like a complete failure. Who could ever love him for him, when he's only seen for one novel that he wrote when he was 19. Calvin has a dog named Scottie that he only got because his psychologist suggested it would help, but is just as afraid as Calvin is. We come to realize that he is a bit of a control freak especially when it comes to his relationships with women. It isn't until he meets Ruby in the park that he finally found his match and the inspiration to his next novel. The problem is she's from his dreams and his main fictional character. But no person, fictional or not, is simple as Calvin soon finds about Ruby. He may have written her, but she suddenly manifests Ruby is a extremely complex individual and a woman that he doesn't have as much control over as he thought. With that, comes the joys of romance mixed in with struggles and frustrations of a real relationship. The real questions to ask, "Is it making either of them happy?"  and "When is he going to tell her the truth?" Whatever the answers may be, Calvin found love, compassion, and a better sense of self.

Though this film is a fantasy, a romance, and comedic fiction, there are elements that is very relatable. Finding someone who will love you for you and visa versa can be very difficult and a lot of times seems pointless. Paul Dano's performance is a bit Woody Allen, which I'm not sure if it was intentional or not, but works very well for his character. A bit artsy-fartsy too with its dark contrasts and unsteady camera work. Yet, the modern architecture in Calvin's apartment is completely up my alley. And Annette Benning and Antonio Bandedas playing the parents is freakin' fantastic!! What a stranger than fiction sort of film!