Engaging romantic comedy with a Shakespearian twist

Rating: Null/10 (12 August 2011)

CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE
ONE LINE REVIEW: Engaging romantic comedy with a Shakespearian twist.
RATING: See it in theaters. (rating system: "see it in theaters", "wait for the instant download", "don't waste your time")
NO SPOILERS
The film opens with Cal (Steve Carell) being informed by his wife Emily (Julianne Moore) that she wants a divorce. After 25 years of wedded bliss that started in High School, this comes as a great shock to Cal. He starts hanging out at a local bar where lounge lizard, local slickster Jacob (Ryan Gosling) takes pity on our schlemiel and takes him in hand to give him a make-over. Cal then goes on to bed 9 women and turns into a slick dude himself.
If this were any ordinary movie, the rest of the plot would be obvious. It doesn't give away too much to say that one of the women Cal conquers turns out to be his son's teacher (Marisa Tomei). In fact, the movie plays very much along Hollywood formula lines that the non-Hollywood ending is a complete surprise.
I wish I could tell you more. But to do so would spoil the film for you. Steve Carell is a master of the underplayed comedian. Julianne Moore is lovely at age 50 (although she claims to be 44 in the film – it is a comedy after all). Emma Stone is smart-sexy. And a special appearance by Kevin Bacon was not unwelcome.
You might "wait for the instant download" but I recommend you "see it in theaters" because you won't want to have the ending spoiled for you around the water cooler.