Crazy Stupid Love

Starring: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Analeigh Tipton, Jonah Bobo, Joey King, Marisa Tomei, John Carroll Lynch, Kevin Bacon, Josh Grobin
Directed by: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
2011

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: After his wife (Julianne Moore) announces she wants a divorce, a father (Steve Carell) feels lost and adrift. He meets a charming ladies man (Ryan Gosling) who helps him recapture his lost masculinity.

Review:

Tim: I loved Crazy Stupid Love. It is a very funny, heartwarming, entertaining romantic movie. In a genre that so often feels stale, most romantic comedies have to do something completely unique to separate themselves from the pack. Not true with this movie. Crazy Stupid Love doesn't need to reinvent anything- it simply gives us an expertly made, beautifully acted, romantic movie. It doesn't innovate as much as it simply gives us a much higher quality product than we are used to. I loved it for that, and this is one of the best romantic comedy/dramas I've seen in a long time.

I absolutely loved the cast. Steve Carell has made so many funny movies, but this one has to be right up there. The part is terrific- he's able to be funny, but in a restrained manner. He's definitely not out there too far, and this film is better for it. He still has some hilarious lines delivered in his perfect comedic timing, but he is also relatable. It's a very, very impressive performance. The pairing of Carell with Ryan Gosling was genius. Gosling gives one of the most charismatic, funny, warm performances I've ever seen. He is completely irresistable to women, yet someone guys can relate to as well. The performance is truly impressive. I love that Gosling- who is typically a very serious actor with loads of indie cred- was willing to make this movie. His performances elevates it to another level. I loved Gosling and Carell together. They play off each other extremely well.

Julianne Moore was a nice addition to the cast. She's been a bit hit-or-miss lately, but she's a serious actress, and does good work here. I was also excited to see Emma Stone here. I truly believe Stone has the acting ability to be one of the greats. While I didn't love her performance here, she works well with Gosling. Marisa Tomei was also a welcome sight. She didn't play the role I expected, but she was incredibly funny. I also loved Kevin Bacon in this film, although his part was a bit small. Part of the reason this movie works is that there are so many compelling storylines- even the smaller supporting players have meaty, interesting stories. I really liked these, including Carell's son, his babysitter, and her parents. This felt like a well-rounded movie that wasn't so much a story about one or two people, but an organic look at several people's lives.

This film has too many funny lines to mention. I'll just say I was laughing throughout. I also love that the movie threw a few twists and turns the audience's way. It isn't often in a romantic movie that something happens so unexpected that I don't see it coming. I love that Crazy Stupid Love proved that romantic comedies can be very intelligent and still surprise audiences. It did a fantastic job of developing rich, complex, interesting characters, and more or less treating their relationships seriously.

While I loved this movie, I admit there are a few flaws that prevented it from reaching all-time great status. The end of the movie devolves into gooey, silly, cliche-filled climax that cheapens the entire experience. I'll just say that a main character making a speech in front of a large audience (regardless of the circumstances) is never a good idea. The conclusion is forced and rushed, and I felt like it was the worst part of the film. That hurts the overall quality.

Despite the weak end, Crazy Stupid Love builds up so much goodwill and momentum that it was forgivable. I love romantic movies when they work well, and this film operated at an extremely high level. It's not only one of the best romantic movies of 2011, it's one of the best movies of the year- period.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Notebook, Dan in Real Life, Date Night