Crazy, Stupid, Love. :: Funny, Smart, Movie.

Rating: Null/10 (5 August 2011)

This film is recommended.
Crazy, Stupid, Love. is not really crazy or, thank God, stupid, but it does speak eloquently of love and relationships with a honesty sorely lacking in most rom-coms these days. The film is a refreshingly honest glimpse of love and all its complications with a large amount of humor and pathos to spare.
After 20 plus years, Emily wants a divorce from Cal, a happily married family man, although he'd rather have the Creme Brulee on the menu than hear the news. Set adrift, Cal is forced to enter the world of dating and is mentored by Jacob, a six-packed sexy ladies man who is slicker than slick. Meanwhile, Jacob goes from woman to woman until he meets Hannah, a no-nonsense savvy young lady. Both men are suddenly in free fall, quickly in need of re- evaluating their vastly different lives.
Solidly directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, Crazy, Stupid, Love. ( Yes, that is the correct punctuation for the title. ) is a rarity in romantic comedies. It is romantic and it is a comedy with genuine laughs that do not sacrifice characterization or plot structure. It does not pander to cheap laughs or raunchy sophomoric humor. It is a mature look at mature people acting immaturely. ( Even teenagers, like Cal's son, Robbie ( Jonah Bobo ), who has a crush on his babysitter, Jessica ( Analeigh Tipton ), who has a crush on Cal, are handled with respect and poignancy. By the way, both young actors excel in their roles. )
The film has a biting sense of irony with its clever and witty dialog throughout most of the film until it veers into sitcom territory with some of the absurd circumstances foisted on the characters. Yes, there are also some nifty unexpected twists towards the end, leading to a totally improbable situation of farcical proportions, that, while played for laughs, is a tad illogical. Also, some of these characters' excessive reactions become a bit cartoony with silly responses that undercut the deeper and more heartfelt moments that the film successfully captures due to the well written script by Dan Fogelman and the fine acting from the gifted ensemble.
High praise goes to Steve Carell and Julianne Moore as the divorcing parents, and Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone as the young lovers. Carell displays a piercing vulnerability that commands the screen and I was even more impressed by his dramatic acting skills than his usual everyman droll persona. Moore is his perfect counterpart, a woman conflicted by age and complacency, caught in a marital middle ground of uncertainty. Gosling takes an unlikeable Lothario role and layers it with fresh humor and impeccable comic timing. Stone adds an easy charm and poise to her cynical professional character. The roles of Cal's and Emily's rebound lovers, played by Marisa Tomei and Kevin Bacon, though well acted, seem to be from another film and are played for much broader laughs, one of the few missteps in this fine comedy.
￼Crazy, Stupid, Love. is a humorous and insightful film that sees our crazy stupid human flaws and celebrates them with laughter, love, and much wisdom. GRADE: B
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