Of the ten films I have reviewed in my short career as a film critic only one or two of them have been anything close to romantic comedies (i.e. Midnight in Paris and Bridesmaids), so clearly I am not an avid Rom-Com fan. Though they may not fit the stereotypical romantic comedy mold, I thoroughly enjoyed both of those flicks, but Crazy, Stupid, Love certainly fits that mold and I loved it regardless. It is a raw, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful outlook on love that steps outside of Hollywood norms to present a relatively accurate portrayal of love.
This is a character piece so the people and the actors who portray them took center stage. Steve Carell did a fantastic job as Cal, an average 40 year old man who gets his world turned upside down when his wife of 25 years, played by Julianne Moore, asks for a divorce. He made a name for himself portraying goofy and typically stupid characters, but he really needs to focus on these heartfelt roles that truly let him shine. Ryan Gosling can apparently do no wrong (Seriously, someone needs to get me this guys work out plan!) as he steps outside of his comfort zone and plays Jacob, a young bachelor who takes Cal under his wing after learning of his plight. Emma Stone plays Hannah who meets Jacob and struggles with the possibility of leaving her steady boyfriend for the “hot guy at the bar.” The gorgeous up-and-coming Analeigh Tipton (The Green Hornet, Hung) plays Jessica, the babysitter who is secretly in love with Cal and to be honest I can not wait to see what she does next. The stellar cast is rounded out by Kevin Bacon as divorce catalyst David Lindhagen, Marisa Tomei as the hilarious teacher/recovering alcoholic Kate, and even a small roll from Josh Groban.
The story moves along relatively quickly and never leaves you bored. Though it is fairly straightforward there are several twists (some larger than others) that help set Crazy, Stupid, Love apart from its Rom-Com contemporaries. Overall, the directing team of Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (I Love You Philip Morris, Bad Santa) along with writer Dan Fogelman (Tangled, Cars 2) did a terrific job of creating something original, honest, and heartfelt in a genre that has become increasingly stale over the years. Crazy, Stupid, Love is at once a great escape and also a powerful reminder of the harsh realities of love and the struggles one must endure in order to see that love grow and flourish over time.
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