Should make the break from The Office

Rating: Null/10 (23 September 2011)

A romantic comedy that actually works. Steve Carell picked a good enough script to convince me that maybe leaving The Office is not career suicide. The plot plays like a French farce. The break-up is delivered immediately and the audience are allowed to watch Steve Carell and Julianne Moore as a middle aged couple work their way through the situation. OK Moore is placed as the villain, but its not hard to believe that she had a do or stay mission.
The film doesn't lag and though the actual time span is difficult to gage, we are spared the stereotypical scenes of weeping maladjusted children playing cupid. The son is only interested in his own agenda and only lets rip about his parents marriage with his synopsis of The Scarlet Letter.
The plot contrivances were pleasantly delivered on their premise and Marisa Tomei carried her performance with a vengeful glint in her eye right up until her final scene. Thankfully Kevin Bacon short appearance worked, even though his characters pursuit of a married woman was morally dubious his heart seemed to be in the right place.
I enjoyed the subplot with the 13 year old son and his crush on the babysitter and thought it ended on both a sweet and disturbing note.
The only false note was the late revelation of Emma Stone background. This was more than made up for with her first night with Ryan Gosling as he experienced the joy of a woman for company instead of a sperm deposit.
Ryan Gosling was able to give his friendless character a lot of charm, and when the film needed to make a plot leap it worked well enough to take Steve Carell on his journey.
Overall easily this years second best dysfunctional rom com after Bridesmaids.