Review of Paper Heart (2009) by Barry T — 13 Nov 2011

An uninspiring, clumsy look at love. The film is part documentary/part comedy and it was very difficult determining which part was what. It purports to follow a blossoming love between Yi and Cera but I have since read that the entire "relationship" between the two was made up for the cameras.

I had a difficult time buying the chemistry between the two in the first place and now knowing that it was "all made up" makes it even more perplexing ... because the "acting" didn't work at all.

Cera is usually a dependably awkward character actor; but I couldn't buy it here -- does that mean Yi is that bad of an actress (using Paper Heart as a guide, probably yes). The movie employed some rough animation sequences that were the brightest/best parts of the film; but that isn't saying a whole lot.

Interviews with "real people" in love didn't add a whole lot either -- it has all been told before. The movie did have one very inspired, laugh-out-loud, hysterical line -- Yi traveled to Atlanta to ask kids about true love and their ideas of a perfect date.

One girl said the perfect date would be a trip to Applebee's where you'd order hotwings. It is too bad the rest of the film wasn't that classic. If a 9-year old girl could produce such an effortless laugh, why does Yi have such a difficult time generating any herself?