Painful clichés overwhelm a charming cast

Rating: 4/10 (8 April 2015)

Crazy, Stupid, Love is a romantic comedy in every way. It has a lovable cast and is packed full of clichés. When I say the cast is lovable, I mean it - Carell, Gosling, Stone, Tomei and Moore all bounce off the screen and into our hearts. They're a talented bunch. Jonah Bobo drove me crazy, but I feel that his lines and story had more to do with that.
But the cliché's are off the charts, and let me count the ways. -Zero-to-pick-up-artist romantic lead (40 Year Old Virgin - same actor and everything!)

Rich-but-doesn't-work-super-sexy-womaniser (think Barney Stinson without a shade of originality by the filmmakers)

Reformed playaa (Wedding Crashers)

Super attractive female lead who we know won't end up with current boyfriend because he's played by a no-name actor and the male lead has already appeared in the same scene as her (there's too many to list, but lets just use Spider-Man)

Crazy one-night stand personality and the awkwardness that ensues (Wedding Crashers)

Boorish and cringeworthy kid love story (ripped straight out of Love Actually, but a lot less cute)

Teenage girl obsessed with older man (think American Beauty)

Everyone gets closure and lives happily ever after (Love Actually)

OK maybe my list of examples is limited, but I'm sure once you've seen one you've seen them all (certainly true of McConaughey and I'm starting to suspect of Gosling too) By the end I was wincing in pain. I wanted to like this, but I just cannot.