Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)
Certified: 14
Duration: 140 minutes
Directed by: Glen Ficarra, John Requa
Starring: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon, Analeigh Tipton, Julianna Guill, Jonah Bobo
KRS release

Soppy, endearing, heartfelt, genuinely funny and altogether crazy and stupid, this film more than lives up to its name. Propelled forward by really great overall performances, an excellent script and a well-balanced mix of romantic comedy and screwball sensibilities, this is a film that deserves watching.

Life seems to be good for Cal Weaver (Steve Carell). He is a successful accountant who is married to lovely Emily (Julianne Morre) and has two adorable kids: 13-year-old Robbie (Jonah Bobo) and younger sister Molly (Joey King). However, in the film’s first five minutes, his wife tells him she has slept with co-worker David Lindhagen (Kevin Bacon) and now wants a divorce. Cal moves out of the house and one night goes to drown his sorrows with booze. At a bar he notices Jacob (Ryan Gosling), a suave and cool ladies man who can pick up women with ease, except for Hannah (Emma Stone) who already goes out with boring boyfriend Richard (Josh Groban). Jacob takes note of Cal’s rundown state and decides to help him. He eventually turns Cal into a lady magnet which leads him to pick up wild teacher Kate (Marisa Tomei). Meanwhile, Cal’s son Robbie is in love with his 17-year-old babysitter Jessica (Analeigh Tipton) and he professes his love to her to the whole wide world; that is at school! However, Jessica is in love with Cal while Cal just wants to go back to Emily and his family…

The film has a many sub-plots, delightful characters and a touching romantic streak running throughout. An interesting aspect of this film is that it mostly tackles the issues from the male point of view – the middle-aged divorcee, the suave ladies man and the besotted teenager.

Steve Carrell is here being given the chance to wear his heart in plain sight and he does it very convincingly. Ryan Gosling is cool and hip, Jonah Bobo acts and looks like a real teenager while Kevin Bacon is deliciously smarmy. Julianne Moore is a bit too whiny for her own good but Emma Stone is lovely. The show stealer, however, has to be Marisa Tomei who as one of Cal’s dates leaves quite an impression.

I left the cinema feeling good, thankful that for once I had been presented with real characters, not caricatures.