Sundance Review: ‘Paper Heart’

‘Paper Heart’ is marketed as a quasi-documentary that follows Charlyne Yi, who plays herself, in her quest to find out what exactly love is and if she is capable of falling in love. Along the line she meets Michael Cera and they start a relationship.

This movie is a very heart warming, but seriously really confusing. I have no idea which parts of the movie were faux and which parts were real. That might just be exactly how they want you to feel after watching it.

Essentially everyone in the movie plays themselves, which includes Charlyne Yi, Nicholas Jasenovec, and Michael Cera. Charlyne and Nick strike out on a cross country quest to find anything and everything about love. This includes interviewing married couples, divorcees, gay couples, engaged high school students, and an Elvis impersonator justice of the peace who works in Vegas marrying people. Each of them tells their unique stories of finding love, falling in love or losing love. Mixed into each of these stories you see the relationship develop and flourish between Charlyne and Cera.

I know the point of this movie is to prove everyone can fall in love, but I also have a hard time believing that they met for the first time while recording this movie. Seeing as how Cera and Charlyne have both made the Apatow rounds it would be very difficult for them to have not known or met previously. That doesn’t stop this from being a very charming, “cute” movie that will be perfect for all the movie geek guys to take their ladies to once it hits a wide release. You cant help but smile most of the movie at the awkwardness of Yi and Cera throughout this whole thing. Definitely make a point to check this one out if you get the chance.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5