Chaos Theory 2008

Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: The performances and Marcos Siega's direction put a pleasing sheen on the material. Read more

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: It's swift and watchable enough, and the actors keep things interesting, but ultimately the movie falls short. Read more

Andrea Gronvall, Chicago Reader: The comic scenes can be arch or shrill, but director Marcos Siega (Pretty Persuasion) does better when the story turns somber and the emotions feel genuine. Read more

Scott Tobias, AV Club: Of the many facile ironies at play in Chaos Theory, the title may be the biggest: How can a movie so stuffed with writerly contrivances call itself Chaos Theory? Read more

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: It's genial enough, but it should be called My First Mid-Life Crisis Movie. Read more

Gregory Kirschling, Entertainment Weekly: Chaos Theory peddles the usual carpe diem movie bunk. Read more

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail: No doubt there's a minute audience who wants to walk out of a Ryan Reynolds movie contemplating the vagaries of life. The rest of us would have settled for a few more laughs. Read more

John Anderson, Newsday: If actor Ryan Reynolds isn't careful, he's going to parlay his good looks and engaging presence into a full-time job as a game-show host. Read more

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: Oh, Ryan Reynolds. We like you. We want to see you succeed. And yet you keep making the wrong choices. Read more

Kyle Smith, New York Post: The audience, if any, for Chaos Theory is going to be hit with a little puff of celluloid flatulence. The movie won't linger in the air, but that doesn't make it any less embarrassing. Read more

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: Reynolds is more than likable in the lead. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: A bogus and unconvincing narrative that pretends to deal with real human issues like betrayal and paternity. Read more

Jim Emerson, Chicago Sun-Times: Dramatically it's neither fish nor fowl, so you can't quite tell if the sandwich is tuna salad or chicken salad. Read more

Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle: Sometimes, Hollywood producers are too myopic to recognize a winner even when they made it. Read more

Philip Marchand, Toronto Star: Reynolds goes through his emotional paces with conviction and is developing a trademark wounded look that is quite effective. Read more

Stephen Garrett, Time Out: Read more

Dennis Harvey, Variety: The lead performers, the brighter fillips in Daniel Taplitz's screenplay and Marcos Siega's assured direction make this a pleasing item overall. Read more

Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice: Reynolds, called to 180 from anal nebbish to feral beast, is beautifully committed, but he gets no help on the other side of the camera. Read more

Desson Thomson, Washington Post: Chaos Theory shows just how crucial casting can be to a movie, especially something as sensitive to nuance, idiosyncrasy and timing as a romantic comedy. Read more