Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Slow
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- awkward
- wistful
- offbeat
- lazy sunday
- quiet night in
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film listless, awkward, and tonally ineffective, with little comic rhythm or emotional vitality.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Failed author Richard Dunn relies on an imaginary superhero and an unexpected friendship with a teenager while struggling to mature.
Richard’s superhero friend Captain Excellent externalizes his fantasies and emotional dependence.
Richard’s friendship with Long Island teenager Abby becomes the route through which both characters learn about growing up.
Richard’s long-suffering wife Claire views his immaturity and unconventional behavior with disapproval.
Films like Paper Man, and why
The Squid and the Whale
shared coming-of-age themes, offbeat humor, and an emotionally awkward adult protagonist
The Way Way Back
shared melancholy comedy, unconventional friendship, and characters struggling with arrested emotional growth
Lars and the Real Girl
shared quirky tone, troubled relationships, and imaginative elements within a character-driven comedy-drama
Wonder Boys
shared literary self-consciousness, comic dysfunction, and an adult character confronting personal stagnation
Movie Details
- Directors
- Kieran Mulroney, Michele Mulroney
- Release Date
- 2009-06-15
- Runtime
- 110 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (378)
Cast
- Jeff Daniels
- Emma Stone
- Ryan Reynolds
- Lisa Kudrow
- Kieran Culkin
- Hunter Parrish
- Arabella Field
- Chris Parnell
- Eric Gilliland
- Louis Rosario
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Paper Man about?
- A stalled Long Island novelist finds an improbable path toward adulthood through friendship with a teenager and his imaginary superhero confidant.
- What is Paper Man like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Paper Man as slow, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Paper Man violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Paper Man.
- What did critics think of Paper Man?
- Critics broadly found the film listless, awkward, and tonally ineffective, with little comic rhythm or emotional vitality.
- Which films are like Paper Man?
- Films with a similar feel include The Squid and the Whale, The Way Way Back, Lars and the Real Girl, and Wonder Boys.
- How long is Paper Man?
- Paper Man runs 110 minutes.
- Where can I watch Paper Man?
- In United States, Paper Man streams on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel.
