Crazy, Stupid, Love
Directed by: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Written by: Dan Fogelman
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Marisa Tomei, and Jonah Bobo

Crazy, Stupid, Love is a nice romantic comedy that boasts a wonderful ensemble cast. It has been heaped with almost universal praise by critics, but I found myself falling in “like” rather than “love” with the film. I’ll concede that it was a strong case of like, but something was missing; this film never soared above most of the films in the genre.

There are two distinct storylines that converge in the film. Cal (Steve Carell) has been shell-shocked by his recent separation from wife Emily (Julianne Moore) and spends his nights drinking away his sorrows at a local bar, spilling his sob story to anyone within earshot.  Bedecked in frumpy clothes and tennis shoes, he sticks out like a sore thumb in the swanky pick-up joint. One night slick player Jacob (Ryan Gosling) is so fed up with listening to Cal that he decides to take pity on him and teach him the ways of a real man. Cal emerges with a new wardrobe and a sense of confidence, ready to hit the single scene. However, all he really wants is his wife back.

Meanwhile, Jacob is unsettled to find that he might be developing actual feelings for saucy redhead Hannah (Emma Stone). It’s an unlikely friendship, but Cal and Jacob forge a symbiotic relationship, Cal offering his experience and wisdom about life and life, and Jacob forcing Cal to grow a pair. A myriad of shenanigans ensue after Cal has romp with mentally unhinged Kate (Marisa Tomei), and Jacob falls hard for his new paramour.

The third act of the film dissolves into a slapstick farce, but it is quite funny. I was completely bamboozled by a late development in the film, and it was a nice surprise, despite being entirely unbelievable. I can’t say enough about how enjoyable Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are on film. Gosling has now successfully infiltrated almost every genre available, appearing in films as diverse as The Believer, Half Nelson, Lars and the Real Girl, Blue Valentine, All Good Things, The Notebook, and now this. I think he is one of the most talented actors of his generation, and the fact that he can so casually embrace (successfully, I might add) comedy after so many serious turns is remarkable.  He’s simply an amazing talent, and he looks damn fine in the film as well. It’s evident that he has hit the gym, hard. No complaints here.

As for Ms. Stone, she is just a joy to watch on screen. That sounds really cliché, but it is true. Her appeal was evident in Easy A, but she is even more likable here. I think the upcoming Spider-Man franchise chose wisely when they cast her as Gwen. She has a contagious spunk, and she’s that rare actress that appeals to men and women alike.  Women want to be her friend and men…well; you know what you want to do with her. There’s no need to fill in the blanks.

This is probably my favorite performance by Steve Carell. He’s slightly pathetic, but not wallowing in misery like he often does in films. His performance is organic rather than forced. He is perfectly cast as Cal. Oddly; the strongest actor (Julianne Moore) was my least favorite character in Crazy, Stupid, Love. The movie doesn’t play to her strengths, and it feels like she was recruited just to have her name on the marquee.

Supporting player Marisa Tomei packs her limited screen time with a powerful comedic punch.  But for the love of God, can we please declare a moratorium on the “precocious kid who is wise beyond their years” character? (See: Chloe Moretz, 500 Days of Summer). It is so tired, and so old, and I am so sick of it. Here the duties of that character fall onto Cal’s son Robbie, played by Jonah Bobo. Is it a special Hollywood mandate that all romantic comedies must include some variation on this irritating trope?

The movie is not without its charms, but I found it to be more drama punctuated by funny moments, rather than a comedy laced with dramatic moments. Temper your expectations accordingly, and you should enjoy the film.  It’s nice and not overly sappy, but I didn’t find it as engaging as I had hoped, despite the strong performances. – Shannon

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