Today’s quick review: Ruby Sparks. Calvin Weir-Fields (Paul Dano), a popular writer struggling with his second book, finally finds his muse when he invents Ruby Sparks (Zoe Kazan), the quirky girl of his dreams. As Calvin writes page after page about her, he falls head-over-heels in love. But his novel takes a strange turn when Ruby comes to life, leaving him with a perfect relationship that he knows can’t be real.
Ruby Sparks is a romantic fantasy comedy about a writer who falls in love with his creation. Paul Dano stars as Calvin, a talented writer having a hard time managing his career, his nonexistent social life, and the aftereffects of a messy breakup. Given a shot at the relationship he always wanted, he learns that real life is more complicated than he thought. This setup allows Ruby Sparks to explore a variety of themes touching on love and writing.
Ruby Sparks covers some interesting ground. The movie is, in part, a dissection of Calvin and his flaws, from the pressures on him as a writer to his controlling tendencies in relationships. Ruby’s unexpected appearance brings out the best and worst in him. On the one hand, Calvin finds confidence and happiness with a woman who loves him for who he is. On the other hand, he comes to realize that Ruby is missing the complexity of a real person.
However, one part of Ruby Sparks’ premise holds it back. Because Ruby is so malleable, she has a hard time developing a character of her own. Her relationship with Calvin oscillates bewteen idyllic bliss and artificial strife as Calvin tries to figure out what he wants. This is an important part of the plot, but it undercuts the kind of growth that romances thrive on. The result is an odd love story that’s more intellectual than emotional.
Ruby Sparks is an offbeat comedy that will appeal to fans of modern romance and the creative process. It does not hold the same appeal as most romantic comedies, with subdued humor and a peculiar emotional arc, but its clever musings on love and happiness make it a worthwhile pick for the right viewer. Those curious should give it a try.
For a more dramatic comedy about a fictional character made real, try Stranger Than Fiction. For an even stranger story about a struggling writer, try Adaptation or Barton Fink. For a romantic comedy in the same vein, try 500 Days of Summer or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. For one about a man with a fictitious girlfriend, try Lars and the Real Girl.
7.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for a creative premise with decent payoff.