What is love all about anyway? Comedian/writer/musician Charlyne Yi and director Nicholas Jasenovec teamed up to examine this question in this eclectic film. It’s a blend of comedy, drama and documentary footage that blurs the line between fact and fiction. The movie’s main plot takes the form of a “documentary” production in which Yi, playing herself, interviews many diverse Americans on the subject of love. Enter Michael Cera (a.k.a. Arrested Development’s George Michael Bluth). Charlyne’s real-life boyfriend at the time, Cera (playing a version of himself not too far off from the typical awkward George Michael shtick, but not in a bad way) begins a relationship with Charlyne while she is filming the “documentary”.

The movie has a freeform approach to storytelling that I really enjoyed. The “man-on-the-street” interviews that Charlyne conducts are entertaining and funny, and some of the interview subjects’ stories are re-enacted with simple homemade paper puppets and dioramas. She is also shown interviewing some of her comedian friends (lots of familiar faces including Seth Rogen and Demitri Martin) in casual settings. Everyone has something to say about love, with all the while Charlyne consistently professing her non-belief in “True Love”, even as her relationship grows more serious.

Overall, Paper Heart is definitely my idea of a movie about love. If your idea is more like Love Story or Titanic, it might not float your boat (sorry, no pun intended). But who knows? Maybe you’ll be surprised. At any rate, Charlyne Yi is sure to be one to watch in the near future. – [DVD]

Comedy/Drama/Romance

Rated PG-13

DVD Release Date: 12/1/09

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