What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

The movie is wildly uneven but lively and timely - in its own surreal way

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Some reviews seem to have pegged this as a mere indie romp, the quirky, gushy type that hasn't felt novel since the mid-00s. That tag doesn't quite do Paper Man justice. Sure, the surface style is a bit derivative. We've seen older men forging an inappropriate relationship with a high school girl before (Juno, American Beauty), and we've seen plenty of cutesy indie films about 20-something would-be-artistes struggling to grow up and get a real job (Flakes, for one). But this movie is quite a bit more deranged than all that. These characters aren't merely eccentric, their idiosyncrasies hover well past the line into downright pathology.First we have our protagonist. Not a disillusioned 20-something hipster, he's a man well into middle age who has no real job, no social skills and still clings to a (sometimes abusive) imaginary friend. Somehow this man with no prospects and no skills is married to a successful surgeon who isolates her maladjusted, delusional, slacker husband up in a rural cabin believing that -- somehow -- leaving him to his own devices and letting him run amok in solitude will help to repair his crippling mental state. Finally we come to Abby, a teenage girl so desperate for companionship that she tolerates a neglectful slob of a boyfriend, a deranged, obsessive stalker who follows her wherever she goes, and a middle-aged married man who lures her to his empty house under the guise of a babysitting job. Her response to being set-up by this pervert? She makes him soup. If her parents exist, they don't much concern themselves with her, and she has no other acquaintances.This is an intriguing character study with some decent heart to be found. It's fascinating to explore these broken individuals and the movie's definitely worth a watch. Unfortunately, the courage with which these characters were created is not matched by the movie's highly formulaic ending, which largely glosses over their more serious instabilities. However, with so many otherwise solid indie projects these days ending abruptly with far too little closure (Not Fade Away, Palo Alto), I'm willing to accept a little undue schmaltz from Paper Man. The cast also garners mentioning. With Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Lisa Kudrow and Jeff Daniels, they couldn't have put together a better ensemble for this film. The performances are entertaining enough just on their own merits.

I had no idea this film - Unlikely Hero - even existed until I saw it on the shelf in my supermarket, it looked funny, it said it was hilarious so it was Netflix'd. Well, firstly, it wasn't hilarious. I'd not even say it was a comedy but it was very good. I think Paperman is a better title, to be honest.The incredible Jeff Daniels stars in this dark, melancholic, psychological film as the author who has hit writer's block and is battling depression and other issues, including the fact that he still has his imaginary friend, in the form of superhero Ryan Reynolds. Emma Stone is the brilliant, unlikely friendship he meets on his sabbatical to write in an out of the way town, and the complexity of both their lives, their joys, pains and despair is what the film is about. The film leaves a lot to the imagination, doesn't explain a lot and leaves an awful lot of questions unanswered. It's not a particularly satisfying film, in that it seems to end in a way that you wouldn't write yourself, there's no denouement or happy ending, just ... well watch it and see.Whilst not satisfying in terms of plot, there is a lot of commend this film for. Namely the performances of the actors, it is funny in a dark and dry sort of way, and it does deal with some rather tough subjects. It is enjoyable, if for the adventure of discovery that it takes you on. Having not known anything about it I found it a rather pleasant film-watching experience. I'm not sure who I would recommend this to, but I wouldn't not recommend it as it was a good piece of independent (Sundance) film.

Review: I quite enjoyed this light drama/comedy about a writer who has an imaginary Superman- like alter ego, who is played by Ryan Reynolds, and his new found friend who is played by Emma Stone. The storyline does take some time to get going, but once it does, it's quite sweet and enjoyable. All of the actors put in great performances, especially Jeff Daniels who plays the lead and is struggling to write a book throughout the movie. I liked the original concept which was cleverly put together, and the many different elements keeps you interested in the development of each characters storyline. Watchable!Round-Up: The poster that goes with this movie is very deceptive because it looks like it's about a superhero. As this movie was made in 2009, Emma Stone & Ryan Reynolds wasn't household names yet so it didn't make a big impact, which is a shame because I have seen worse. Lisa Kudrow, who plays Jeff Daniels wife, was a great choice by the director because her style of acting suited her role. Anyway, it's light hearted fun which has a deep undertone.Budget: N/A Worldwide Gross: $14,000 (Terrible!)I recommend this movie to people who are into there drama/comedies about a struggling writer who has a Superhero as an imaginary friend. 5/10

Just finished watching this and it was fantastic. I'd never heard of it till I saw it, but with such as good cast (Jeff Daniels, Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone, Lisa Kudrow) thought it had to be worth watching. I absolutely agree with the great review already on here. Should of had a better release. It's not the usual kind of film, all action, special effects, non-story driven drama, or one liner comedy, thats always playing at your cinema regardless of what date it is, just a very REAL movie about people and how things don't have to be movie style extraordinary for our lives to change for the better and everything's perfect by end, life's never perfect but we can change for the better. Very moving by the end, really well written and acted. Not the story you think its going to be, very profound. Must see.