Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Let me preface my review by saying: this is possibly the best film I have seen in a few years. I had heard the hype. It lived up to that hype and even exceeded it.
If you actually think about it, the root of all true film-making is to touch the audience. To make them feel as though they can root for/relate with the characters that are presented. To feel emotion. At the very heart of movies, the creators want their message to be heard with. To be liked. So sometimes they try too hard, make the wrong casting decisions, aren’t wholeheartedly involved in the project, that a potentially meaningful piece of art will inevitably not fulfill its potential. This film, on the other hand, is the polar opposite of that accepted epidemic.
Crazy, Stupid, Love. is a wonderful film that is able to ellicit genuine emotion through the brilliant performance by the terrific cast. Steve Carrell, as Cal Weaver, gives his best showing other than Michael Scott. Oddly enough, the other flick where I loved him was a similarly toned offering, Dan In Real Life. His rapport with the physical specimen that is Ryan Gosling is excellent. They work off each other with pinpoint timing allowing for great give and take. Gosling incorporates his natural suave, charm and sexual undertones to shape his own version of Jacob Palmer, a lifelong womanizer. Rounding out the male cast is the surprising effort by Jonah Bobo who plays Carrell’s son Robbie. (You parents out there know him as the voice of Austin on The Backyardigans.) Bonus: we get our requisite Kevin Bacon sighting.
The women of this motion picture are nothing to scoff at either. Julianne Moore is par for the course. Sexy, sensitive, neurotic, funny. I have yet to come across one of her roles in which I didn’t love her. Emma Stone is adorable with a wicked side. She always exudes such a glamourous ora, ever since Jonah Hill passed out and broke her nose. And, lastly, one of my all time crushes, Marisa Tomei. She steals every scene she is in with her portrayal of a scorn cougar on the revenge trail. Amazing!
This film is a touchstone achievement for the writer, Dan Fogelman (who is a master of the animated film), and co-directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa. Having seemingly shattered of their shells, thus far in each’s respective career, this is without a doubt the pinnacle of their creative lives. I am anxious to see if they can follow up such a kick ass movie with future stories.
This movie has a truly authentic way of depicting its message to the viewer. We go though a gamut of feelings: pain, sadness, joy, laughter, empathy, love, in real life, that it’s refreshing to see a film be able to so accurately capture its essence without letting the usual Hollywood pitfalls allow it to fail. It is the perfect blend of comedy and drama. I cannot praise the collaborated effort on this picture enough. It was awesome. I suggest you see for yourself.
