Ruby Sparks 2012

     Calvin has written a best selling novel, he still does interviews and book signings but he has writer’s block.  He’s seeing a therapist who gives him an assignment.  Write one page about a woman liking your dog just like he is.  It doesn’t have to be good, it just has to be something written.  He has a major breakthrough and words begin to pour out on the page.  Then unusual things begin to happen, he dreams about the girl he’s writing about.  A woman’s shoe appears in his home and then underwear is found in a drawer.  He must be seeing things but his brother saw the underwear too.  It’s back to the therapist!!  He shows his work to his therapist and this breakthrough is very encouraging except for the actual clothing in the drawer.

     This is good and different.  Calvin has swings of mood and angst.  For a while you are forced to wonder what is going on and for another while you still wonder what is real.  It sneaks up with different questions and insights as the scenes go by.  His mother and her boyfriend are a surprise.  How they live and behave.  There is a syndrome called Difficult Second Album and Calvin is suffering from this malady.  Once you become famous, how can you live up to expectations for the next novel?  How can you keep from disappointing your fans and making a fool of yourself?  You become paralyzed with fear and writer’s block!!  It’s easier to lay on the couch and talk to your therapist!!  3 ½* (I liked this movie)  

104 min, Comedy directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris with Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Chris Messina, Annette Bening, Antonio Banderas, Steve Coogan, Toni Trucks, Deborah Ann Woll, Elliott Gould, Alia Shawkat, Jane Anne Thomas.

Note:  Blockbuster 3*, Imdb 7.2 out of 10, 79% critic 79% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3*, Metacritic 67 out of 100 with 40 critics 8.1 out of 10 with 108 review, Empireonline 4* out of 5*.

Special Note:  Filmed in Big Sur and Los Angeles, California.  Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan met while performing in a play Things We Want directed by Ethan Hawke in 2007.  They have been a couple since that date.