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It is hard to remember the last time Hollywood begat a romantic comedy or a dramedy as heartfelt, clever and thoughtful as 2011's quirkily-titled Crazy, Stupid, Love. (two commas and a full stop?). Instead of a run-of-the-mill rom-com, writer Dan Fogelman and directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (I Love You Phillip Morris) concoct an incisive examination of contemporary love, with the film tracking a gallery of characters representing different stages and forms. The flick juggles several subplots and secondary romantic storylines to fulfil its ambitions, yet none of the narrative pieces feel undernourished or short-changed. Most importantly, Crazy, Stupid, Love. is a comedy-drama that finds the perfect balance between poignant drama and quality comedy without feeling tonally schizophrenic or uneven.
After marrying young and spending 25 years together, Cal (Steve Carell) and Emily (Julianne Moore) initiate divorce proceedings in response to Emily's infidelity. A despondent Cal moves out and begins drowning his sorrows in alcohol at an upmarket local bar, where he encounters a charming, fast-talking womaniser named Jacob (Ryan Gosling). Jacob impulsively takes Cal under his wing to help him regain his manhood, teaching the middle-aged schlub to dress properly and talk to women. But while Cal enjoys several meaningless sexual conquests, Emily finds it more challenging to move on, even with an interested suitor in David Lindhagen (Kevin Bacon). Meanwhile, Jacob begins to abandon his womanising ways when he falls for Hannah (Emma Stone), a beautiful young girl who resists his trademark pick-up methods from the outset. Additionally, the family's babysitter, Jessica (Analeigh Tipton), harbours a crush on Cal, but Cal's 13-year-old son, Robbie (Jonah Bobo), expresses his undying love for her.
In less dexterous hands, Crazy, Stupid, Love. would have been a disposable rom-com involving embarrassing archetypes and broad comedy. However, writer Fogelman (Cars, Tangled) pens a far more skilful screenplay that manages to convey both the elation of being in love and the hurt it can cause. It deals with various forms of love, from high school crushes to young love to middle-aged marriage, and it deals with each topic honestly and authentically. Consequently, everyone should be able to relate to this movie in some capacity. Additionally, rather than one-dimensional genre stereotypes, the film's characters are well-written with genuine depth, and they feel like authentic human beings. Their decisions, actions and mistakes exhibit admirable realism, raising the film above less ambitious studio rom-coms. Crazy, Stupid, Love. is definitely a comedy since it's extremely funny, but the film is rooted in poignant themes and issues of the heart. It's refreshing to see something this gentle and nuanced coming out of Hollywood without seeming saccharine-coated or contrived. Although Cal's climactic speech is perhaps too calculated, the final scenes recapture the sincerity and honesty of what precedes it. Crazy, Stupid, Love. predominantly shies away from Hollywood clichés and refuses to end on a conventionally happy note.
Before their directorial debut with 2009's I Love You Phillip Morris, directors Ficarra and Requa had written comedies like the hilarious, edgy Bad Santa, and their comedic instincts do wonders for Crazy, Stupid, Love.. The duo display immense comic timing, and the picture flows smoothly thanks to attractive cinematography, buoyant editing and a playful soundtrack. Additionally, the directors bring enough edge to the feature to ensure that it never turns into either a ridiculous comedy or an overly sentimental affair. Some of the humour is a tad broad, but the comedy is mostly witty, with brilliant one-liners and snappy banter triggering belly laughs or giggles. Additionally, the screenplay roots the humour in relatable and undeniable truths, epitomised in Cal's hilarious shopping expedition with Jacob. Crazy, Stupid, Love. contains several standout scenes like this, with memorably funny dialogue far more effective than most mainstream studio comedies.
For an often comically-oriented actor, Steve Carell brings tremendous gravitas to the role of Cal, resulting in a performance alternating between emotionally powerful and amusing. Who would've thought that an actor from The Office, Anchorman and Dinner for Schmucks could be so subtle? Julianne Moore is equally excellent - her performance as Emily is naturalistic and nuanced, and she seemingly defies age. Carell and Moore make for a convincing couple who share great chemistry, and their dramatic scenes together are enthralling. Another standout is Ryan Gosling, who demonstrates here what a versatile performer he truly is. Effortlessly emanating charisma, Gosling is spot-on as the womanising Jacob, and the back-and-forth between him and Carell is pure gold. Emma Stone represents another welcome addition to the cast; she's cute, likeable and believable as Gosling's love interest. The scenes between Gosling and Stone are exceptional, with their tender flirtations and sharp bantering providing heart and humour, and with the movie making great use of the Doris Troy song Just One Look. Also engaging are Analeigh Tipton and Jonah Bobo, who are younger but no less convincing as teens who are naïve about love. Rounding out the main players is a hilariously uninhibited Marisa Tomei, who plays one of Cal's sexual conquests, and an against-type Kevin Bacon.
Crazy, Stupid, Love.'s message about love is not exactly groundbreaking, but what original messages on the subject are there left to convey at this point? What matters is the execution, and in this respect, the film is a home run. Both funny and romantic, Crazy, Stupid, Love. is not solely aimed at women since men can enjoy it without feeling guilty, and the movie has enough to offer both sexes. In fact, this is the kind of title I would gladly add to my collection alongside Commando and Predator.
9.2/10
