Ruby Sparks
From the directors of Little Miss Sunshine, an offbeat romantic tale about a struggling writer caught in an unusual relationship when his fictional character, Ruby Sparks, suddenly comes to life. Also stars Annette Bening, Antonio Banderas, Steve Coogan and the film's writer, Zoe Kazan.
Calvin (Dano), once a praised young author, has hit both a creative and romantic slump. In a sudden burst of inspiration, he creates the character Ruby Sparks, a beautiful figment of his desires. A week later, Ruby (Kazan) appears in the flesh, in his kitchen - and in love with him. Unable to explain the phenomenon, Calvin can't help but feel drawn to the girl created from his own words
- Director:
- Jonathan DaytonValerie Faris ('Little Miss Sunshine')
- Writer:
- Zoe Kazan
- Cast:
- Paul DanoZoe KazanAnnette BeningElliott GouldAntonio BanderasSteve Coogan
Reviews & comments
Variety
pressThere's little doubt that Kazan has written a sly, amusing portrait of male self-absorption and artistic tyranny.
Time Out
pressPulling a page from Charlie Kaufman’s playbook, Kazan and her collaborators are intent on using this metanarrative to puncture the hipster-Pygmalion notion of the manic pixie dream girl.
The New York Times
pressWho hasn't entertained a fantasy of romantic omnipotence in which a dream partner complies with your every wish?
Roger Ebert
pressThe movie's intriguing in its fanciful way, and there are times when both Calvin and Ruby seem uncannily like they're undergoing revision at the hands of some uber-writer above them both.
Los Angeles Times
pressAn engagingly off-kilter love story of a writer, the girl of his dreams and the power of his pen.
Box Office Magazine
pressThis smart and sophisticated romp takes surprising directions as it examines the creative process of writing, the delicate balance of relationships, and the mysteries of men and women.
A.V. Club
pressThe setup is rote, almost insulting, but it's smarter than it looks: Once the pieces are in place, Kazan's script reveals a deeper game.
To be honest I have varying opinions on this film and can't quite seem to make my mind up on whether I liked it or not. I was very much looking forward to this movie from the quirky and fun trailer, and in part of the movie it is that way. Once Ruby starts having all of her different mood swings, things start to get a bit strange and kind of freaky...
It might have worked better for me if I could have empathized with the characters. The story was okay but when every character is well healed (and by definition boring) it needs more than one story thread to maintain interest.
Seven of us went to see "Ruby Sparks" and, for the first time in ages, we had a very diverse range of scores (1, 1, 2, 2.5, 4, 4, 4) - an average of 2.5. I was one of the 4s but had grave doubts about the plot before I saw the movie. We get an intelligent script, 2 great actors in the main roles and, if you can accept the integral conceit of the story, a...
this film had moments of laugh out loud funny and a mixture of sadness and despair, its a reality call for everyone that one desire being fulfilled does not make for a perfect life, funny and thought provoking , if you were given the power would you use it?
My friend and I attended the preview of this lovely film last night. It's going to be a quiet little hit. 'Ruby Sparks' is not just a chick flick but a film that everyone will enjoy. The premise of a young writer with writer's block literally falling in love with the woman of his dreams and having the dream come alive was totally novel. The casting of...
Wow, what a great wee film. Really funny at times, darker and sad others- genius casting of Paul Dano as Calvin. Shades of Stranger than Fiction, but with more clever and complex themes- even your dream girl eventually isn't perfect...
It has all the appearances of a romantic comedy with indie sensibilities but never accepts those trappings and builds up more underlying themes of relationships and human flaws that are stunningly quirky and funny while also finding a striking balance into something darker and more heartwrenching. Zoe Kazan has written a very broad and bright character for...
A movie very much in the Arts category, much like the aforementioned "Stranger than Fiction" though not quite as good. Music, cinematography and for the most part, script, very good. The typewriter was a good focal point but I feel could have been made a bit more of so that it affected all the characters rather than just the main few. Considering the...
Good of Cinema and the big 'what if?' This film has it in spades - and as an as an audience we want to go there. Nice casting, screwed up soundtrack. It had me. Some great 'holy crap' moments too
Variety
pressThere's little doubt that Kazan has written a sly, amusing portrait of male self-absorption and artistic tyranny.
Time Out
pressPulling a page from Charlie Kaufman’s playbook, Kazan and her collaborators are intent on using this metanarrative to puncture the hipster-Pygmalion notion of the manic pixie dream girl.
The New York Times
pressWho hasn't entertained a fantasy of romantic omnipotence in which a dream partner complies with your every wish?
Roger Ebert
pressThe movie's intriguing in its fanciful way, and there are times when both Calvin and Ruby seem uncannily like they're undergoing revision at the hands of some uber-writer above them both.
Los Angeles Times
pressAn engagingly off-kilter love story of a writer, the girl of his dreams and the power of his pen.
Box Office Magazine
pressThis smart and sophisticated romp takes surprising directions as it examines the creative process of writing, the delicate balance of relationships, and the mysteries of men and women.
A.V. Club
pressThe setup is rote, almost insulting, but it's smarter than it looks: Once the pieces are in place, Kazan's script reveals a deeper game.
To be honest I have varying opinions on this film and can't quite seem to make my mind up on whether I liked it or not. I was very much looking forward to this movie from the quirky and fun trailer, and in part of the movie it is that way. Once Ruby starts having all of her different mood swings, things start to get a bit strange and kind of freaky...
It might have worked better for me if I could have empathized with the characters. The story was okay but when every character is well healed (and by definition boring) it needs more than one story thread to maintain interest.
Seven of us went to see "Ruby Sparks" and, for the first time in ages, we had a very diverse range of scores (1, 1, 2, 2.5, 4, 4, 4) - an average of 2.5. I was one of the 4s but had grave doubts about the plot before I saw the movie. We get an intelligent script, 2 great actors in the main roles and, if you can accept the integral conceit of the story, a...
this film had moments of laugh out loud funny and a mixture of sadness and despair, its a reality call for everyone that one desire being fulfilled does not make for a perfect life, funny and thought provoking , if you were given the power would you use it?
My friend and I attended the preview of this lovely film last night. It's going to be a quiet little hit. 'Ruby Sparks' is not just a chick flick but a film that everyone will enjoy. The premise of a young writer with writer's block literally falling in love with the woman of his dreams and having the dream come alive was totally novel. The casting ...
Wow, what a great wee film. Really funny at times, darker and sad others- genius casting of Paul Dano as Calvin. Shades of Stranger than Fiction, but with more clever and complex themes- even your dream girl eventually isn't perfect...
It has all the appearances of a romantic comedy with indie sensibilities but never accepts those trappings and builds up more underlying themes of relationships and human flaws that are stunningly quirky and funny while also finding a striking balance into something darker and more heartwrenching. Zoe Kazan has written a very broad and bright character...
A movie very much in the Arts category, much like the aforementioned "Stranger than Fiction" though not quite as good. Music, cinematography and for the most part, script, very good. The typewriter was a good focal point but I feel could have been made a bit more of so that it affected all the characters rather than just the main few. Considering the...
Good of Cinema and the big 'what if?' This film has it in spades - and as an as an audience we want to go there. Nice casting, screwed up soundtrack. It had me. Some great 'holy crap' moments too
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