CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE REVIEW

Oh, another rom-com I hear you yell? Oh, and it has the 40 year old virgin in it as well does it? Well it must be a rom-com then? I think it’s a little bit disingenuous to label Crazy, Stupid, Love as a stereotypical rom-com. And whys that I hear you ask? Because it is so much more than your standard, brain dead, join the dots romantic comedy.

Telling the story of Cal Weaver (Steve Carrell) and his marriage, which has fallen apart due to a bit of extra curricular physical activity on his wife's (Julianne Moore) behalf. Cal finds himself meeting Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling) who, shall we say is the ultimate playa, and Palmer takes Cal under his wing. From there, Palmer teaches Cal the tricks of the trade as it were. A wardrobe change or ten later, coupled with a new haircut, Cal is starting to pull in the ladies quite successfully, all while under the instruction of Jacob. Predictably the 2 switch roles, as Jacob eventually falls for Hannah (Emma Stone) and reckons she’s the one and changes his ways. In the meantime Cal is still struggling to come to terms with his separation and never wants to give up on his soulmate. Will it all work out by the time the credits role?

Crazy, Stupid, Love blew me away. I cannot stress how much of an impact this movie made on me. The performances, while not mind blowing or anything, are rock solid and faultless. Carrell proves that he can do something that far exceeds the usual stuff he does, and that’s to be expected. Great comedic actors are generally really good all round actors to boot. Gosling plays the playa all too well and Julianne Moore is delightful as usual, as is Emma Stone.

This movie caught me in a few ways. Firstly, the story, while the conclusion may be predictable, the way it gets there is just brilliant. It throws the rule book out the window when it comes to the genre. It’s incredibly clever, smart and at times really witty. You WILL laugh out loud. And by the time the whole thing is over, you WILL certainly have a tear or two ready to drop. Even the underlying plot of Cal’s sons obsession with his babysitter is wonderful.
Secondly, the characters are incredibly relatable to. Anyone who’s ever been in love or even had a crush on someone will connect instantly. And it’s incredibly easy to do so as the cast are really likeable.
Thirdly, this is one of the sweetest movies you will see all year. It’s impossible not to get sucked into it. And it’s never in a cheesy way. I found myself willing and urging the characters on screen on more than one occasion.

Crazy, Stupid, Love has incredible heart, solid performances and is incredibly touching and sweet. It will bring smiles and tears and, if anything it’ll even make you question your own relationship and how you could make it better. Even if you’re single, it will bring a glimmer of hope. Above all else, this is  a must see. One of my favourite movies of 2011! Inspirational!