Now which one will it be? Who is Maya's mother? Surprisingly, I was not sure until the moment it was revealed. I am sure that if I wanted to, I could have predicted who the mystery woman was. However, the point is that the story did not give it away too early, and was compelling enough not to make me want to guess. I was so into the film that I had no desire in trying to race Maya to the finish.

Sure, Definitely, Maybe is not a perfect movie and the story is certainly sanitized for Will's audience, but it still has a pleasantly organic flow. It is not as if Will immediately falls in love with each woman he encounters. As Will says to Maya, "It's complicated." That's true, life and love are complicated, they are never as simple as they are generally portrayed in films and television. In this sense, Definitely, Maybe allows its characters to have lives and not be completely tied to one another.

The performances are all quite good, with Isla Fisher being the biggest standout. Ryan Reynolds is affable enough in the lead. Could this be the next step to the A list? Perhaps, but I am not holding my breath. Abigail Breslin is fine in her 'Fred Savage in The Princess Bride'-type role.

The heart and soul is truly contained within the three women in Will's life. Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz, and Isla Fisher all bring a different heat to the screen. Each one brings a different element to the story, each offering something new to Will's life. For my money, it is Isla Fisher who delivers the most captivating performance of the trio. The relationship just hits at a different level and really connected with me.

Writer/director Adam Brooks does a fine job of creating a compelling tale that avoids the expectations of the genre while still delivering a relatable experience. He has given us a film where there are no "bad guys," but where the inhabitants have their own desires and dreams which will converge and veer away from the others. It is well written and compelling. This is definitely a film that can be at the very least considered to join the upper ranks of modern rom-coms.

Bottom line. Much better than I was expecting. It could probably have gone a step or two further, but it is not completely necessary. Strong performances, good characters, and good writing carry this film to a successful conclusion that satisfactorily wraps everything up.

Recommended.