Ruby Sparks - B

Rated R, 103 minutes

Frothy and amusing "Ruby Sparks" will satisfy

Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan

Writing isn't fun (just ask any film critic) especially when you have certain blocks that provide many stumbles. The creative process comes to life, literally and figuratively in the charming, well-acted new romantic comedy "Ruby Sparks," from the makers of "Little Miss Sunshine" and starring one of "Sunshine's" players, Paul Dano, and lovely young newcomer Zoe Kazan in a breakout performance. Calvin (Dano) is a young novelist who achieved phenomenal success early in his career but is now struggling with his writing - as well as his romantic life. Finally, he makes a breakthrough and creates a character named Ruby who inspires him. When Calvin finds Ruby (Kazan), in the flesh, sitting on his couch about a week later, he is completely flabbergasted that his words have turned into a living, breathing person. Satisfying and engaging, "Ruby Sparks" has the potential to be the indie sleeper that we haven't seen in awhile. The cutesy premise lacks full shape and it tries too hard to spin something different, but the inspiring pairing of Dano and Kazan (who also wrote the script) makes for worthwhile viewing. Directed by the husband-wife team of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, who directed the Oscar-winning "Little Miss Sunshine," the film works best when it focuses on the insecurities and frailties of the creative process, and in lesser hands it could've veered off in many directions. But Dayton and Faris handle the material well in blending part fantasy, part character study and of course part romantic comedy, and it helps they have two charming actors in Dano and Kazan, who capture some of the unspoken elements of the script well. With all of these elements wrapped into one film, some work better than others, but suffice to say which is more flawed, the characters or the person who creates them? The mildly amusing "Ruby Sparks," much like Calvin's creation, is a flawed but satisfying experience that will still leave you with a smile.