Plot summary (from the studio): Chaos Theory is a heartwarming comedy about family, friends, and finding order in a world of complete disorder. Frank Allen (Ryan Reynolds) is a man known for playing it safe. Every choice he makes is deliberate––designed to contribute to a well-ordered, predictable life. But life, as he learns, does not always adhere to a schedule. Frank’s regimented existence begins to unravel when a stunning family revelation forces him to re-examine the concept of fate. Shaken to his core, Frank throws caution to the wind and decides to break all the rules and conventions that have defined him. Frank is about to discover that not even an efficiency expert armed with timetables and index cards can change the serendipitous nature of family and friendship, love and forgiveness.
Warning: Spoilers below!
Liked:
- I don’t understand all the Ryan Reynolds hate out there. I really like him as an actor and have rarely been disappointed in a performance of his (Green Lantern notwithstanding). He was pretty good here, and definitely one of the reasons I a) saw this film to begin with; and b) kept watching to the end.
- The reveal that Frank was sterile and that Jesse wasn’t really his daughter came out of nowhere, and thus was a pretty damn good twist to take us into Act II of the film.
- I thought the father-daughter scenes between Frank and Jesse were well done. Even though there wasn’t much actual focus on the interaction between these two characters, their relationship was the heart and soul of the film.
- I liked that Buddy was still part of the family at the end and seemed like he participated in Jesse’s life as well.
Disliked:
- I hate it when television and movie couples don’t give each other a chance to explain. Susan and Frank had been married for eight years, but she doesn’t let him tell his side of the story regarding the hospital or hotel room? She just kicks him out without a word? I could understand that response if he had a track record of being a womanizer, but when a straight-laced, ruled by timetables guy seems to have gotten some random woman pregnant, I think I’d take a moment to find out wth was going on.
- The way Susan and Frank got married was incredibly dumb. Susan just announces at a party that she wants to get married and wants to choose one of her friends so she doesn’t waste time dating, and Frank ends up being the “winner”? Come on. That’s the kind of contrivance that screams THIS IS A SCRIPT and takes me right out of the story.
- One of the lessons Frank supposedly learns in this film (according to the studio synopsis) is forgiveness. But there wasn’t really anyone to forgive because no one did anything wrong! Buddy didn’t know that he was Jesse’s father, and Susan and Buddy slept with each other before she married Frank. She was totally faithful after the marriage. So who, exactly, was Frank supposed to forgive? (Trust me, I hated that no one was to blame. I thought this movie really needed an antagonist.)
- The “aging” of Ryan Reynolds for the wedding scenes didn’t work very well. They receded his hairline and put some gray in his hair, but his face was still completely smooth and wrinkle free. It just looked weird.
Rating:
I’d never heard of Chaos Theory, and judging from the ratings on IMDb (always a risky move, I know), I figured I was in for a dud. Since I didn’t have high expectations going in, I can’t say I was disappointed in the result. I liked Ryan Reynolds and some aspects of the film, but thought several of the plot points were weak and felt the script as a whole was fairly flimsy. I give this one 2 stars out of 5.