Review of Celeste & Jesse Forever (2012) by Manny C — 21 Sep 2012

Childhood sweethearts and former wife and husband Celeste (Rashida Jones) and Jesse (Andy Samberg) decide to divorce after six years of marriage. That's not a spoiler, it's how this remarkable movie begins.

Celeste is riding high on a career streak, working as a trend caster for an L.A. marketing company. Jesse is a struggling artist who essentially remains in career stagnancy, and so forward-thinking Celeste decides it's over.

Though split, they remain the best of friends, in-jokes and all (they especially love giving small bananas or pencils mock hand jobs). This is all too weird for their friends (Ari Graynor and Eric Christian Olsen), not to mention their dating lives.

Jones (of tv's Parks and Recreation) and Samberg (formerly of SNL) nail every laugh and nuance, they are a dynamite combo. Not only that they play their roles with genuine force, allowing for moments of deep hurt and confusion.

Jones, co-writer of the script with actor Will McCormack, is just superb. I can only speak superlatives of her performance, one that rings true in every moment. If the Academy had any smarts they'd recognize this fine performance as more than just comedic dazzle.

And Samberg is excellent, his is a performance that really digs. He has his pot-addled friend (McCormack) to confide in, she has her gay co-worker (Elijah Wood), but even those cliched staples don't sink the wonderful script.

Credit too must go to director Lee Toland Krieger (The Vicious Kind) who deftly finds the perfect balance of emotion and humor as Celeste about blows it with two potential guys (Rafi Gavron, Chris Messina) and Jesse works to live up to expectations to a woman he impregnates on a one-night stand (Rebecca Dayan).

For all the familiarity of the premise, Celeste and Jesse Forever transcends the usual rom-com dreck, in part thanks to its breakout performances and also its willingness to eschew lame cliches and go for the painful truths.

That's what makes it a true keeper and totally irresistible.