Review of Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011) by Amber M — 08 Mar 2014

Crazy, Stupid, Love follows Steve Carell as Cal, a married man of 25 years to Emily (Julianne Moore). The couples come across a hurdle in their marriage when Emily announces to an entire restaurant that she wants a divorce. Cal drowns his sorrows in a local bar, telling anyone that will listen about his predicament. Jacob, a bachelor rightly played by the gorgeous Ryan Gosling takes Cal under his wing and makes it his mission to help him become a new man and appeal to new potential love interests.

The narrative also follows Jacob's relationship with the stunning Hannah (Emma Stone) and even has a sub-plot of Cal's son Robbie (Jonah Bobo) who is completely infatuated by his older babysitter Jessica, played by Analeigh Tipton, who also has a huge teenage crush on Cal. The film is packed with different stories and characters in a huge triangle of love, but Crazy, Stupid, Love navigates between all of them with ease and intelligence.

As for the acting, the film most definitely delivers. Carell gives one of his best performances yet moving between depression, shame, and completely hilarious. His unique facial expressions are shattering in some scenes, and ridiculously comical in others. He displays a dramatic depth unlike much of his other work such as The 40-year-old Virgin. I have mostly seen Gosling play depressing dramatic roles such as Blue Valentine and The Notebook, but here he proves himself as a comedian, giving a hysterical performance nailing every line and mannerism. He is flawlessly groomed with twinkles in his eyes and sly grins, perfect for his role as a ladies man who has all the money and swagger. Moore and Carell's characters combine in a way that makes you believe the pair really are in a long-term marriage. Stone shines throughout the movie and her character is promptly lovable. Moore and Stone do not have such big parts, but give just as great performances, balancing the humour and drama, holding their own on-screen.

Marisa Tomei also stars in the film giving a fierce but very funny performance as a recovering alcoholic schoolteacher who dates Cal briefly after his divorce. Kavin Bacon also humours the audience as Emily's co-worker, who was her rebound too. Although they are very brief roles, they are hilarious in the scenes they were given. There can't be a more likable combination assembled together for a film. They gel remarkably well and even when one character tries to become unlikable, the actor depicts him or her with such talent that it is impossible not to like them.

What I love most about this film is that it is realistic. It doesn't paint love to be a magical thing that makes someone happy all the time like in fairy tales; it knows that love and relationships do not always work out and occasionally ends up in heartbreak. It's a heart-warming and somewhat painfully honest depiction of three couples and unfolds with such a twist it's a massive, yet hilarious shock to the audience. It provided me a few tears but a lot of laughs; definitely a must-see.