When you see the trailer for Crazy, Stupid, Love, you may think the same thing I did, “Hey, it’s a traditional romantic comedy that will, at best, be decent.” After catching an early screening of the film, I have to say that Crazy, Stupid, Love seriously surprised me with its well-scripted PG-13 comedy (yes it still exists & can work), unconventional story, and true-to-heart drama. Steve Carrell has done a good job and this movie ranks up there among his best films like the Judd Apatow-directed The 40 Year Old Virgin. Crazy, Stupid, Love is directed by the duo team of Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, whose previous works include the first Cats & Dogs, Bad Santa, and Bad News Bears. With the solid script by Dan Fogelman, writer of Disney’s Cars and Bolt, the two directors may have found their footing at last – and a winner in Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Crazy, Stupid, Love follows a man named Cal Weaver (played by Steve Carrell) and his life following a divorce with his high school sweetheart and wife, Emily Weaver (Julianne Moore). The first ten minutes or so show the bored married couple and having dinner together at a fancy restaurant while other couples are having the time of their lives. Emily at last bursts out that she has been sleeping with another man and wants a divorce. Cal says goodbye to his wife and kids and moves out into an apartment. Bored with his life and lonely, Cal heads to an upscale bar every night after work. Cal’s depression catches the attention of a wealthy playboy named Jacob (Ryan Gosling). Jacob decides to make it his duty to make Cal recapture his youthful manhood and attract women.
While the brief intro synopsis above sounds like a generic romantic comedy, the story takes an unexpected but fun roller coaster ride and focuses well on character relationships. Throughout the film, there were moments ranging from shedding manly tears to laughing at a well-timed hilarity. Crazy, Stupid, Love achieves real substance by using, of course, love as a strong theme. It is a movie that explores all forms and aspects of affection from infatuation and falling in love for the first time to heart break and overcoming obstacles with a significant other. These are all examined through its cast of characters from Cal and Emily Weaver, their son Robbie, Jacob, and even the family babysitter Jessica.
I loved the cast, and it was a pleasure it was to see an ensemble have chemistry to work so well with each other. Steve Carrell has not lost any of his comedic zing since leaving The Office and further displays his capability for serious drama. He can still deliver his lines with either comical execution or in a way that makes you sympathize with his character. Julianne Moore plays another wife that cheats on her soul mate (the last time was in The Kids Are Alright), but you are never made to loathe her character. The Notebook’s Ryan Gosling was an actor I originally thought would be the weakest when it came to comedy for this film. Boy, could I have been any more wrong; he played Jacob as funny, charming, sincere, and likeable for someone that looked like a jerk. Jonah Bobo, who played the young son Robbie, is a skilled child actor and was the coolest thirteen-year old I’ve ever seen. I really wish my younger brother was as insightful and charismatic as he (hope he isn’t reading this). Emma Stone is a strong actress as usual, delivering a nice performance as Hannah, a girl who falls for Jacob. The other young actress Analeigh Tipton plays the family babysitter and is, I would have never guessed, a supermodel that puts the acting of Transformers 3’s Rosie Huntington to shame.
Sadly, Crazy, Stupid, Love looks to be a movie that audiences will ignore because of the large event blockbusters like the final Harry Potter, Captain America, and Cowboys and Aliens – unfortunate since it’s not great but very good. If you are looking for a film with a little more heart and substance or even a fun flick you can enjoy with a hot date, Crazy, Stupid, Love is an excellent choice.
Add half a star if you really love romantic comedies. Subtract 1 star if you really dislike them.
