Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011) - Movie Review

-May contain major spoilers-

Crazy, Stupid, Love is a romantic comedy film directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa with music by Christophe Beck and Nick Urata and was released on July 29, 2011. 

Starring Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Marisa Tomei and Kevin Bacon.

Summary

Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) is a middle-aged man who lives a normal life with his wife and children. While he is having dinner at a restaurant with his wife Emily Weaver (Julianne Moore) they can't decide on dessert so he tells Emily to say whatever they want on the count of three - he says: "crème brûlée" she says: "a divorce". Cal's world gets turned upside down - with reason - especially when Emily confesses she's been having an affair with David Lindhagen (Kevin Bacon) an accountant from work.

After finishing the divorce and moving houses, Cal begins to visit a bar where he complains about his divorce to anyone who wants to listen (or not). A regular at the bar gets interested in helping Cal get over his divorce just so he can stop talking about it. That man is the womanizer Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling), who is used to conquering women and taking them home every night, with the exception being Hannah (Emma Stone), a law student who shows no interest in him. 

Jacob starts his masterclass on how to pick up women by updating Cal's wardrobe and hair so he looks more stylish and a bit more confident. Later, Jacob teaches Cal the proper way to talk with women (according to him); he doesn't understand much and ends up having a very awkward conversation with Kate (Marisa Tomei) but conquers her by being honest. This gives Cal a confidence boost and he starts to pick up women at the bar regularly.

Meanwhile, Hannah thinks her boyfriend will propose to her after she passes the bar exam. After she passes the exam, instead of proposing to her, he proposes that she become a partner in his law firm. A brokenhearted Hannah goes to the bar where she met Jacob and, when she sees him again, asks him to take her home.

Jacob starts to develop feelings for Hannah, while Cal seems to still miss his ex-wife...  

Thoughts

Crazy, Stupid, Love gives us so many iconic moments that when I watched it recently I found myself saying "So that's where that GIF comes from". Although I have to say that this movie was hard carried by the chemistry between Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling and also the one between Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, with the highlight of the movie being the merging of storylines towards the end. I think that the stories of Cal's teenage son Robbie (Jonah Bobo) and the babysitter Jessica (Lio Tipton) take away points from the movie (especially in the ending).

The cinematography is nice, I really like the shopping scene and the aforementioned scene where the storylines merge, aside from being really funny, is very well written and shot.

The acting is very good and as I wrote before the chemistry between the actors is phenomenal. 

Steve Carell at the start of the movie reminds me so much of his character in The 40-Year-Old Virgin for some reason (maybe his "meekness"). I really like Cal's characterization, especially when he gains confidence (but still worries about his ex-wife's garden). SPOILER I just wish that he moved on from his ex-wife at the end SPOILER ENDS

Ryan Gosling is fantastic in comedy roles and I think he should do a lot more (especially romantic comedies). On paper, Jacob has everything to make me hate him (I mean, he is a womanizer who doesn't care about anyone), but Ryan portrays him in a way that makes you root for him. 

Emma Stone's portrayal of Hannah is great, although she has only a few scenes her character captures your attention from her first scene. I find her character to be very endearing and quite dorky, just lovely. 

The soundtrack is good; I really like the use of Doris Troy's "Just One Look" in the scene where Jacob serves Hannah a cocktail. I also like the song "Almanac" by The Acorn that plays when Cal is driving babysitter Jessica home.

I recommend this movie if you like movies where the characters have some personal growth, really good chemistry between the actors and some nice funny moments.

Rating

Acting - 10/10

Plot - 7/10

Jacob and Hannah's relationship - 10/10

Cal and Jacob's friendship - 10/10

Soundtrack - 9/10

Cinematography - 9/10

Overall Rating - 9/10 

Extended Movie Info.

Run Time: 118 minutes (1hs 58min).

Release Date: July 29, 2011.

Directed by: Glenn Ficarra and John Requa.

Cinematography by: Andrew Dunn.

Written by: Dan Fogelman.

Edited by: Lee Haxall.

Music by: Christophe Beck and Nick Urata.

Starring: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Lio Tipton, Jonah Bobo, Marisa Tomei and Kevin Bacon.