Review of Like Crazy (2011) by Guillermo A — 04 Mar 2012

(3 Stars) Like Crazy is okay. The entire film is propelled by an aggravatingly bad decision made by the two leads, but if they didn't make it, then there wouldn't be a movie. American Jacob (Anton Yelchin) and Brit Anna (Felicity Jones) are a cute and in-love couple who decide to spend the summer together, violating Anna's student visa. Without trying to sound cynical about love, this decision is beyond moronic and even the movie seems to know it. All she had to do was go back to the UK for a summer, but because the screenplay says so, she doesn't. In this age of cell phones, texting, and skype, a long-distance relationship isn't as hard as it used to be and sometimes distance strengthens a relationship.

The film is a character study and the script is mostly improvised, so it's going to seem like a lot of scenes are expendable, but there are some genuinely heartfelt moments. The editing is extremely montage-y; not MTV montage (thank god) but French New Wave. I'm mixed on this because it manages to cut to the compassionate parts of their relationship, but it also gives a reason to not establish anything in the scene for art's sake. Here, the editing is half effective and half annoying. I'm not sure what the message is about love is supposed to be given the Graduate-esque ending; maybe it's not a coincidence that Paul Simon is featured abundantly on the soundtrack. If Like Crazy were a minute longer than an hour and a half, I don't think I could recommend it, but it's short and there are a few things in the film worth seeing.