Paper Heart (2009)

This unusual mockumentary stars a delightful Michael Cera and a new to me, oddball Charlyne Yi. Charlyne—an unbeliever in love—sets out to document people, their views on love, and unexpectedly falls into it.

The best parts of this film are the real love stories told by couples across the nation and Michael Cera. Yi is unconvincing. Her loud guffaw is unbearable. The lines between fact and fiction are clearly drawn, but that doesn’t keep Paper Heart from being obnoxiously adorable. Cera is the man. His unassuming demeanor works perfectly here. The scenes with Yi are precious, but Yi is uncomfortable in her own skin and that is reflected here.

Paper Heart is composed of scripted bits, real stories, and puppet reenactments. Sadly, they don’t gel. Making matters worst is an abrupt ending that leaves the viewer feeling cheated.

As I see it, Paper Heart is like Nick and Norah’s sans playlist and relatable characters. It’s cute, but forgettable.