Surprisingly enjoyable

Rating: 8/10 (2 February 2012)

I watched this movie on the back of viewing Drive (also starring Ryan Gosling) and was not expecting anything particularly groundbreaking. I'm a big fan of Steve Carell and greatly enjoyed Easy A mainly due to Emma Stone's performance so the film did offer some possibilities for me. I watched it half-grudgingly, as I usually try to avoid any form of romantic comedy due to their usual formulaic nature.
However, I was pleasantly surprised by this movie, which didn't follow the usual formula of crass romantic comedies of the past few years. It made great use of its actors comedic skills, and predictably Carell comes off the best. However, Stone gets some great lines and delivers them like a seasoned pro. Gosling even manages some great subtle reactions, full of suave raised eyebrows and casual charm. I even managed to not hate Julianne Moore's bizarre facial expressions as much as I usually do.
I wonder if it would be possible to turn out a decent a film with just this cast and nothing else, even the lesser known actors do an incredible job and in the case of the kids and teenagers, often show up the adults. The bar scenes between Gosling and Carell are the best in the movie, but the climax at the school graduation and the showdown in the garden are so incredibly well written its hard not to be impressed no matter what your taste is.
As far as I could ascertain, everyone is either related or in love with each other, but the complex relationship web is easy to understand and you really begin to root for the struggling lovers and even the not-so- struggling in the case of Gosling. Carell manages to dispense of the Will Ferrell-inspired random shouting for genuine awkward hilarity which shows he only continues to grow as a comedian. The young cast also turn out impressive performances and Marisa Tomei's role is not only perfectly cast but magnificently played.
For anyone who has felt the sting or unrequited love, or the problems that can arise from a stale marriage or a relationship that seems dead, you'll find an extremely accurate portrayal in one of these plot threads. They really do speak from experience and the ways in which the characters come full circle and tie together so beautifully at the end of the film is inspired.
The story is nothing magical or particularly inspiring, but it has a great pace and is effortlessly told. My only issue with the film from a business standpoint is the title, it will turn off a lot of guys won't want to watch it because it sounds like another standard chick film. It shouldn't be a surprise of a good film, but it is. I watched it as an agreement with my girlfriend and it turned out to be win win, my advice is not to be put off by the sugary title and ridiculous cover shot and watch it, as there really is a different movie underneath the saccharine that is so easy to enjoy.