film review: crazy stupid love
Crazy Stupid Love begins as Cal, (Steve Carell) and his wife Emily (Julianne Moore), are out to dinner one night, only to have Emily announce that she wants a divorce for dessert. Cal barely bats an eyelid, simply moving out quietly and saying goodbye to his marriage. While drowning his sorrows at a very trendy bar (where he clearly does not belong), Cal meets Jacob (Ryan Gosling). Jacob is his polar opposite: a smooth-talking ladies man who wants to teach Cal the ropes and show him how to live again.
Meanwhile, Cal’s son Robbie (Jonah Bobo) has fallen head-over-heels for his babysitter Jessica (Analeigh Tipton), who just happens to be in love with Cal. To add to this crazy web of romance, Emily’s co-worker David Lindhagen (Kevin Bacon) is hoping to be with her now that she is separated. While Cal’s attempt at creating a new life seems to be a success, it doesn’t make him want his old life back any less. As he tries to rebuild a connection with Emily, Jacob might have found an unexpected connection of his own with Hannah (Emma Stone). The many romances collide as Cal makes a grand attempt to save his marriage, leaving everyone to figure out exactly who and what they want.
The best thing about this movie is that it doesn’t try to be too serious. Gosling’s character starts out completely over the top, but it’s clear that it’s meant to be that way. It’s much easier to enjoy a somewhat silly movie when the movie itself seems to acknowledge that silliness and say hey, why not just enjoy it?
It’s a story of many clichés – a middle-aged man who has forgotten how to live, and a young man who thinks he’s living but might actually want something more, amongst others. The talented cast make these clichés their own, adding quirks and humour unique to their own styles. Stone plays a relatively minor role as Hannah but lives up to her current hype in both funny and serious scenes.
Crazy Stupid Love isn’t short of clever jokes, and Carrell is able to pull off the less-than-clever jokes that might fall flat in other settings. This is a movie full of those lines that you will want to quote all the way home. The more tender moments are perfect too: sweet enough to enjoy without being overly cheesy, and not too serious that they make the movie less fun. It’s just the right amount of substance for a romantic comedy. Jacob and Hannah’s storyline is a highlight (especially a Dirty Dancing recreation) – its only flaw is that there isn’t enough of it. Smart, charming and fun, this movie ticks all the right boxes.
