‘Ruby Sparks’ Movie Review – Is It Worth Watching?

The girl of your dreams usually stays there – but what if she didn’t? What if she lived in both your mind and your house? Describing Ruby Sparks as a high-concept fantasy rom-com is an insult to the film. It’s so much more: sidestepping the temptation to simply play with her physical attributes, the filmmakers have written the story from a deeply emotional perspective, taking it to some pretty dark places.

The film is directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, the duo behind Little Miss Sunshine, the indie comedy that introduced audiences to Paul Dano. His quiet start was only a prelude to greatness in a barnstorming season as he has climbed the ranks with appearances in There Will Be Blood, Being Flynn, Cowboys & Aliens, Looper and now Ruby Sparks.

Dano’s thoughtful performance as an introspective writer is tempered with fascination as he watches his creation from the swirling perspectives of an author, a boyfriend, an ex and in some ways, Dr. Frankenstein. Ruby Sparks possesses a fairy-tale kind of beauty, played by the enigmatic Zoe Kazan, who is probably best known for her role in The Big Sick, What If and Revolutionary Road. As the screenwriter, Kazan brings special insight to the role, colouring her manic pixie character with kaleidoscopic precision.

The rest of the cast feels almost like an unnecessary safety net for the co-leads, who carry the film with great confidence. Still, having the likes of Steve Coogan, Antonio Banderas, Annette Bening and Elliott Gould certainly doesn’t take anything away from the array of quirky supporting characters. These seasoned actors give Ruby Sparks instant indie-comedy muscle while offering the younger talents a chance to outshine them.

“The manic pixie of your dreams.”

Ruby Sparks is entertaining, quirky romantic-comedy fun. The film embraces the calamity of a real-life dream girl and, instead of merely basking in the situational comedy, pushes the story beyond the honeymoon phase. The aftermath is where reality kicks in, providing a thought-provoking commentary on modern relationships as power imbalances play out and the dream spirals into an uncontrollable nightmare.

Just like Little Miss Sunshine, Ruby Sparks isn’t a typical mainstream release. While the premise has the makings of a commercial rom-com, the filmmakers are more concerned with exploring the consequences of this be-careful-what-you-wish-for scenario. The trailer makes it look like a happy-go-lucky date movie, but it is far from bubbly and can be quite prickly at times.

Ruby Sparks loses some of its impact with a last-minute play to satisfy its commercial tendencies, but the core of the film remains taut and intact thanks to the chemistry and conviction of its co-leads, as well as the story’s originality and staying power. If you enjoyed films like Stranger Than Fiction and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, you will be pleasantly surprised by this little indie gem.

The bottom line: Spellbinding