Paper Heart (2009)

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Here's what IMDb says about this movie:

Charlyne Yi embarks on a quest across America to make a documentary about the one subject she doesn't fully understand: Love.

Jon and I watched it a few nights ago. Well, Jon fell asleep about halfway through, so I guess I'm the one who watched it. I didn't hate it while I was watching it, but the more time that goes by since I saw it, the more it makes me kind of mad that I wasted my time on it. Charlyne Yi doesn't believe in True Love, so she travels around the country (and even to Paris towards the end) asking people about True Love--do they believe in it, what is it, what are their experiences, etc. She even consults some "experts" who might have something to say about love--some professors of biochemistry or something like that. She has some famous friends, one of whom is Michael Cera, with whom she starts a relationship. In spite of her experience with him, she refuses to change her mind about the existence of love. Nobody can teach her anything. Why are they driving and flying all over the place, presumably spending a bunch of money? Apparently, it is just to make this documentary. There are also scenes featuring paper cut-out figures.

IMDb says this is a partially-scripted documentary, and I'm not sure what that means, but I don't care. The director, Charlyne's friend Nick, is played by an actor, but everyone else is just who they are. What I learned is that Michael Cera acts just like every character he's ever played (as far as I have seen, and I guess it's possible he was acting in this movie, too). I also learned that some people think they're clever enough that we should watch them making a "documentary." I think it was meaningless, self-referential, and self-indulgent. You could probably put some more "self" words in there. I hope I can stop being annoyed by it now. (I supposed there are some people who would say the movie succeeded because it got stuck in my head, but again, I don't care.)

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