Paper Man

This quirkfest is like a smashup derby of indie clichés. Writer’s-block-plagued author Richard (Jeff Daniels, somehow both sour and puppyish) has retreated to a cottage in the boondocks. He’s got an imaginary superhero friend (Ryan Reynolds, doing his smirking serious thing). Richard implausibly befriends Abby (Emma Stone, the only good thing here), one of those preternaturally world-wise teen girls who inhabit indie films, giving film critics a chance to gush about breakthrough performances. Throw in some weepy backstory, a couch built out of books and a score that goes from mopefest emo to cutesy humor cues, and watch the whole thing self-destruct. Or better, don’t.