Genre: Romance
Director: Nicholas Jasenovec
Cast: Charlyne Yi, Michael Cera, Jake Johnson
RunTime: 1 hr 28 mins
Released By: Cathay-Keris Films and Lighthouse Pictures
Rating: PG
Official Website: http://www.paperheart-movie.com

Opening Day: 1 October 2009

Synopsis:

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 another modern-day skeptic.

PAPER HEART follows Charlyne as she embarks on a quest across America to make a documentary about the one subject she doesn’t fully understand. As she and her good friend (and director) Nick search for answers and advice about love, Charlyne talks 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?

Then, shortly after filming begins, Charlyne meets a boy after her own heart: Michael Cera. As their relationship develops on camera, her pursuit to discover the nature of love takes on a fresh new urgency. Charlyne risks losing the person she finds closest to her heart.

Movie Review:

After the constant influx of romantic comedies, it is refreshing to have a film that deal plainly on the topic of love, though the method of presentation is not unique. By using the documentary-drama approach to the film, Charlene Yi begins on her quest to find the true notion of love and in the process, finding her own true love, alas fictional, with Michael Cera.

Charlene Yi is perfect to host-slash-act in this film, as she brought with her a certain quirkiness and quality to the movie. With her geeky spectacles, awkward behavior and plain-Jane attire, she still manages to charm the audience by her little actions and intonation of her lines. She totally shone in this film and outshone her co-star Michael Cera, who has actually become a chore to watch. From his portrayal of the unplanned teenage father in "Juno" and the awkward teenager in "Superbad", Michael Cera has constantly played the same type of characters in his film, and it is kind of disappointing and embarrassing to watch him once again, playing that character in yet another film. His skill has not evolved or advanced, like his character in the recent "Year One", making him a bore and a drag in some of the comedic moments in the film.

The line between reel and real blurred as the two begins on their relationship, and the crew insisting on filming their every move. Though the relationship is a set up for the film, the emotions are believable and genuine enough, kudos to Charlene Yi, not so much to Michael Cera. As the film progresses, even the toughness cynic will secretly hopes that Charlene has really found her true love and rooting for this relationship to work.

However, despite the Charlene stunning performance, she has fall short in her scriptwriting debut as the theme of the movie is not explored deeply enough and seem to skim on the mere surface. It's a pity to watch her interview couples from all walks of life, yet without analyzing their definition of love, whether it being clinical or based solely on their life experience. Though, I concede that the puppetry in the show is highly entertaining and pure comedy gold. Credits to the filmmakers to decide on this mode of presentation for the background story of the interviewees in place of tons and tons of photographs.

In all, Paper Heart is not your typical romance on the big screen, however, for those expecting some depth in their movie, this will not be suffice. For the others, Charlene Yi's performance alone may be enough to touch your heartstring, and you may find yourself enjoying it more.

Movie Rating:



(Charlene dazzles in this, but the film fails to create a sizzle in my heart)

Review by Sing Swee Leong