2_TwoJewsOnFilm
"'Crazy Stupid Love' 'Two Jews On Film' Once Again Only One Feels The Love In This Romantic Comedy"
New Releases, Oscar-Winners and Obscure Movies!
Join | Log In
A movie directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa
< read all 7 reviews
Rating:
+3
The movie opens with the heartbreak that drives the rest of the movie. Cal played by Steve Carell learns in the middle of a packed restaurant that his marriage is about to end and his wife Emily, played by Julianne Moore, cheated on him with a co-worker. This is not the start to the romantic comedy that we are used to, and from here it could go anywhere. They decide to keep the movie in the comedic wheel house but not without a few dramatic moments.There is a lot jammed into Crazy, Stupid, Love but it never feels like you are missing out on anything. Dan Fogelman wrote his love story with three different generations all experiencing more or less the same thing. The first half of the movie seems to be full of punchy dialogue but as the movie progresses we lose the tart retorts and gain a sincerity and hope to the film. The emotions the characters feel seem much more genuine and their action more natural to what is going on around them even if the situations that started it all seem less likely.
While maybe not all totally believable the movie has a lot of heart and that has to count for something. The movie’s leading men hook up in a totally unrealistic fashion. There is no way some hot guy in a bar full of far too many attractive women takes a sad, pathetic 40-something man under his wings and guides him. But to be fair there is no chance a divorce ends that quickly or amicably without lawyers so it is best to just go with it. The dynamic between the male leads are great and lead to a lot of funny moments. It is not just the zingers that the actors deliver that receive audible reaction from the audience. This movie is also full of uncomfortable moments directly out of Carell’s “Office” playbook which makes sense as he also lends his hand as a producer on the film. I don’t know if I can remember a movie since Superbad that I was forced to look away from the screen by just how uncomfortable some of the funnier scenes in the movie got. The delivery is fantastic all around and there is little doubt to why that is.
The cast is full of incredibly talented people who continually get better with each role. Ryan Gosling is everything that is right with movies right now. His most recent roles have been amazing from the heart-breakingly beautiful in Blue Valentine, to the drug addled coach in Half Nelson, to the eternally romantic Noah in The Notebook. He picks amazing parts and knocks each of them out of the park. It was great to see him branch out into a comedic role and show just how far his talent can reach. Gosling is bound by nothing and it is going to be great to watch this leading man continue to grow. Carell returns to the big screen as the everyman romantic who once again spends the movie blurring the lines between being a total doofus and a complete charmer. His best scenes though are when he and Gosling work together in a Miyagi-esque relationship.
Their female co-stars don’t get quite the same detail written into their characters. After the initial outburst we learn very little about Moore’s Emily. There is a lot in the script about how Carell’s character deals with the break up, but most of Emily’s story comes from a response to the actions of her husband. Her best scenes feature her and Carell expressing the regret of their current situation. Emma Stone meanwhile plays Hannah the aspiring lawyer, and much like Gosling her character is far more interesting than the female lead. Her charisma flies off the screen especially the moments she shares with Gosling. She pops with her co-star and flaunts her perfect comedic timing. Of the four main actors, she probably gets the least amount of screen time. It is a shame we don’t see this romance till later in the story but these two young actors make every scene work.
Not only is this a talented leading group but the ensemble behind them are great as well. The third story line involves the older couple’s son who, typical of Hollywood, seems to be more knowledgeable than the adults who surround him. Also wonderful in the movie is Marissa Tomei who dials up the crazy a little bit and generates quite a few laughs herself. In fact the whole cast is able to get the audience going and it is a credit to the script that it was able to attract so many talented people.
The cast should attract a lot of people to this movie. Where it will win them over though is the amount of heart that shows on the screen. B-
What did you think of this review?
Helpful
6
Thought-Provoking
6
Fun to Read
6
Well-Organized
6
Post a Comment
woopak_the_thrill
July 28, 2011
I was on the fence on this one, but your review sold me! This sounds like something I will enjoy...thanks for the review!
show text editor
KingreX32
July 28, 2011
Great Review dude. Although im not a fan of romance movies. You should Cheak out the Movie hype Community. If you post your review there more people will see it.
woopak_the_thrill
July 28, 2011
thanks for that, Kingre!! :)
show text editor
1
More Crazy, Stupid, Love. reviews
As comedies go, I think this is probably one of the better ones you will see this year. Steve Carell plays Cal, a husband who splits from his high school sweetheart, played by Julianne Moore, after she cheats. Hanging out in single bars every nights he sees this ladies man played by Ryan Gosling successfully pick up numerous women, while he says out loud to anyone who will listen, 'my wife cheated on me with xxxx.' Meanwhile his teenage son has the … more
Comments (2)
Compliments (12)
**1/2 out of **** "Crazy, Stupid, Love" is a new romantic comedy that attempts to bend the rules of what seems like a perfectly typical (and complicated) love story. I'll openly admit that - while the results are undeniably entertaining and the film is a pleasant ride throughout - I was left desiring something more. The film, which is at first sight a well-cast and sweet effort for its kind, could be compared to a fine meal claiming to be composed of foreign cuisine; basically, … more
Comment
Compliment
CRAZY STUPID LOVE Written by Dan Fogelman Directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa Starring Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone Jacob: Be better than the Gap. Well, I’ll give them “crazy” and “stupid” but that’s pretty much where the love stops for me. CRAZY STUPID LOVE is yet another romantic comedy that gets lost in all the crazy highs and stupid lows we have all come to associate with that elusive and all encompassing … more
Comments (11)
Compliments (36)
'Crazy Stupid Love' written by Dan Fogelman (Cars) opens with a shot of two sets of feet underneath a table in a restaurant. The feet belong to Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) and his wife Emily (Julianne Moore) Their feet are very far apart from one another...which tells us...something is not quite right with this couple. As Cal studies the menu, he says to his wife...'Let's shout out on three what … more
Comments (8)
Compliments (36)
Star Rating: Crazy, Stupid, Love. is very much a movie, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. The fact that it’s so innately cinematic, however, ultimately diminished my ability to appreciate it on a deeper level. This is somewhat disappointing because there are select moments so well written and performed that they show a great deal of intelligence and warmth on the part of directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa and screenwriter Dan Fogelman … more
Comments (1)
Compliments (12)
There’s always something I can find to love in a romantic comedy. I can always appreciate the sense of wish fulfillment, the authentic sweetness of some, or just how, well, love-able some of the characters can be. In Crazy, Stupid, Love’s case, it’s all three. Crazy Stupid Love (or “CSL” as it’s going to be known for the rest of this review) is, at times, predictable and it’s a film that by all means plays to the romantic comedy tropes, but it’s also … more
Comment
Compliment
About the reviewer
zstoner66
Ranked #20
Ranked #20
Member Since:
Nov 15, 2010
Last Login: Dec 11, 2012 10:01 PM UTC
Last Login: Dec 11, 2012 10:01 PM UTC
Consider the Source
Use Trust Points to see how much you can rely on this review.
You
zstoner66
Your ratings:
Recent reviews by zstoner66
About this movie
Cast:
Kevin Bacon,
Steve Carell,
Julianne Moore,
Ryan Gosling,
Marisa Tomei,
John Carroll Lynch,
Liza Lapira,
Joey King,
Emma Stone,
Crystal Reed
Director:
Glenn Ficarra,
John Requa
Genre:
Comedy,
Drama,
Romance
Release Date:
29 July 2011 (USA)
MPAA Rating:
PG-13
Screen Writer:
Dan Fogelman
First to Review
- About Lunch
- Press
- FAQs
- Contact Us
- Terms of Service
- Privacy Policy
- Sitemap
- Report Abuse
© 2013 Lunch.com, LLC All Rights Reserved
Lunch.com - Relevant reviews by real people.