Crazy Stupid Love is one of the best relationship movies I have seen since ‘500 Days of Summer’. The trailers make this movie look like it would be a dreaded ‘chick flick’, but this truly is a great movie about relationships in all their complexities and provides no solutions, just observations. There are a lot of great performances by an ensemble cast and one of the best soundtracks that I have heard in quite awhile. The film has witty moments throughout and one could almost call it a comedy, but it really is very poignant and looks at the lives of people we care about. It doesn’t try to gloss over their pain or joys with humor.
Steve Carell plays the straight-laced Cal Weaver, a man whose suburban dream life of a house, a beautiful wife, and two kids begins to fall apart after he learns that his wife Emily (Julianna Moore) of twenty-five years wants a divorce after having an affair. Suddenly, Cal finds himself in the single world with no idea how to navigate it. He hangs out at a local singles bar endlessly boring people with stories about the mess his life has become. His sad sack ways catch the attention of the local lothario, Jacob (Ryan Gosling). Jacob is a player of the highest magnitude and is a true virtuoso in the art of picking up women in bars. He is handsome, slick, and well dressed with a line for every situation. He takes pity on Cal and decides to take him under his wing and teach him how to get back into the game. Predictable, but still hilarious, montages of Jacob trying to shop with Cal to try and improve his look ensue and it’s a pleasure to watch. Jacob is a true Jedi master and eventually elevates Cal to an acceptable level where he can ‘stalk his prey’.
Despite Cal’s successful transformation he is still deeply in love with his wife and does not adjust well to his new life. It doesn’t help that Jacob has taken an interest in a woman who doesn’t fall for his predatory lines (at least not initially). Hannah (Emma Stone) is beautiful and intelligent. She sees through Jacob’s swagger, but at the same time is intrigued. As she warms to Jacob, he begins to reevaluate what he really wants. He begins to make a connection with someone as opposed to just a conquest.
There are many subplots that would take up too much space to discuss, but they all overlap and intertwine. Many comedic situations arise from this and at one point I was afraid it would digress into a French style comedy of errors (not a big fan of those). The moment I thought all was lost, the story returned to its’ proper level of sophistication and insight. It descended again at another point when the son spoke awkwardly of what he had learned in front of his classmates in a school auditorium (I was having nightmarish visions of every 80’s teenage drama ever made [thank goodness there was no slow clap]). Yet again the director took the scene and redeemed his vision. This film does not follow rules and you are sincerely curious how all the situations will work out.
I’ve always respected Steve Carrell, but he tends to get pigeon holed into only certain types of comedies. He is a gifted performer and is able to convey a wide array of emotions. He can be humorous and heartbreaking simultaneously. I hope the film industry will allow him to expand his types of roles as I think he has a career future similar to Steve Martin or Jim Carrey.
This is the perfect date movie as, I believe, both men and women can enjoy it. I wouldn’t call it so much funny as I would charming. With the exception of the two scenes I mentioned, the film takes humor from life, but treats it with respect and care at the same time. The inner conflict and turmoil of people is always there even as the film allows us to smile at their struggles.
This is just a good film and time well spent. I’m a big Ryan Gosling fan even though I rarely like the movies he is in (One can respect ability even if one doesn’t like the product [‘Lars and the Real Girl’ being the exception]). Steve Carrell is funny, but his skills are much broader. Movies like ‘Dan in Real Life’ shows he has the talent, now if only he can find the right vehicle to show some of his depth.
I give this movie **** stars
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