Funny, Smart, Movie

Rating: 7/10 (13 October 2011)

This is an above average romantic comedy with an excellent cast and a few unexpected plot twists.
Steve Carrell is shocked when his wife of 25 years (Julianne Moore) tells him she wants a divorce after she has a one-night stand with a work colleague After moving out of home he starts to drown his sorrows in local pick up joints. He is spotted by a younger self-confessed Lothario played by Ryan Gosling. He uses his good looks and charm to bed almost all the women he sets his eye on. He decides to take Carrell under his wing to advise him how to make the most of his newly single status. However we do see Gosling failing with one lady, played by Emma Stone.
There are some laughs as Carrel's character is transformed and starts getting a bit of luck with the ladies, first off with a teacher, played by Marisa Tomei. We also see how he tries to maintain a good relationship with his kids. There are a number of story lines that you know will probably all come together at some stage of the movie.
The cast members are all excellent. Stone and Carrell have done comedies before and are excellent again here. Moore, Gosling, Tomei and Kevin Bacon also put in excellent performances. Jonah Bobo is also excellent as Carrell's teenage son.
The writing is excellent, makings us feel sympathy for the main characters, despite their faults.
So despite a closing scene at a school graduation that is dragged out too long I really enjoyed this movie.