Crazy, Stupid, Love.

 
When I first saw the trailer for Crazy, Stupid, Love., I felt indifferent to what seemed like a romantic comedy with an all-star cast, which is likely for a type of movie like this (ahem, 2010’s Valentine’s Day). However, I was quite surprised by what came out of it. Crazy, Stupid, Love. is one of those movies that is hard to write a review about because it is a story comprised of multiple story-lines of different characters, which, ultimately, come together in the end.

A memorable scene that cannot be spoiled in this review. Sorry.

The movie starts off with Cal (Steve Carell) and Emily (Julianne Moore) having a nice dinner. But before they even order what’s on the menu, we can already feel that emptiness in their relationship, and Emily immediately and publicly asks Cal for a divorce, which is he taken back by. We later find out that Emily was having an affair with David Lindhagen (Kevin Bacon), a character that does not serve too much of a purpose but is used as comedic relief. We also have a hot, young cast: Jacob (Ryan Gosling), a ladies’ man who learns more of himself as he tries to help Cal find his mojo after his divorce. Hannah (Emma Stone), is a smart girl, who is a successful up-and-coming lawyer, who is having trouble finding the right man. The cast also boasts a few new talents including Analeigh Tipton, Jonah Bobo, and some old faces, including Marisa Tomei. That’s a lot of information right there!

Hey, Steve, where did your mojo go?

As the movie progresses, each and every character learn more about themselves of who they are, the decisions they made in their lives, and, of course, romance. It’s hard to explain the plot of Crazy, Stupid, Love. without giving away the twist in the end, so i’ll leave it there. All I can say about this movie is that the witty dialogue and intelligent characters help it stand out when thrown into the pile of the same genre. I would say this is an American version of Love, Actually, but without the Christmas theme.

Crazy, Stupid, Love. is a gem of love, heart, laughter, and value; it’s real. We all question ourselves: Will we find the right person? The truth is is that everything is meant to happen. The worst will even bring us together and there should be no regrets in life. We take our actions for granted, and this movie assures us that we should appreciate even the little things in life. Ultimately, something good always comes out of something. I thoroughly enjoyed Crazy, Stupid, Love. The downside is very brief; for example, the scene where the handsome Ryan Gosling exposes us his muscular body. It is obvious that certain scenes were added in there to grab a certain age group’s attention, but it’s quite minor compared to the positives of the film.

Hey this is actually a pretty good movie!

It’s great to see a movie where all the characters are likable, even the ones we are supposed to hate. Expertly executed, beautifully directed, and an intelligent use of a recycled storyline, makes this a go-see.  Crazy, Stupid, Love. is refreshing and fun.

Grade: B+