DVD Review: Crazy, Stupid, Love

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Love hurts.

Cal (Steve Carell) and Emily (Julianne Moore) are getting a divorce. Their young son, Robbie (Jonah Bobo) has a thing for his babysitter Jessica. (Analeigh Tipton) Jessica has a thing for Cal. Cal goes to a swanky bar to drink his depression away when he meets Jacob, (Ryan Gosling) a ladies man that shows him how to pick up chicks. Jacob eventually finds himself settling down when he meets Hannah. (Emma Stone) Did you catch all that? Everyone is connected in Crazy, Stupid, Love; a comedy that tells you how love really is.

The movie was filled with cliches, but still managed to stay aware of them. It also contained one of the most interesting "family show down" moments I've seen in awhile. Kevin Bacon and Marisa Tomei have small roles, but they feel wasted after being so heavily focused on in the movie's many trailers. I didn't find the movie particularly funny, there weren't any scenes that made me laugh out loud. I can appreciate the little things, like the costume designs for the folks in the bar (dapper suits, sophisticated dresses, fashionable heels.) The babysitter and son storyline was actually pretty funny. Oh, and Ryan Gosling is really, really hot. Any movie featuring him nearly naked automatically gets a higher grade than it deserves.

Recommended: Yes, it's a mediocre movie, but I wouldn't call it bad.

Grade: B-

Memorable Quote: "He doesn't know that I'm in love with him and he doesn't know about the naked pictures!" - Jessica (Analeigh Tipton) 

Comments

  1. Dan O.December 20, 2011 at 12:29 PM

    Good review. Overall, the film is too conventional for my liking. It needed to be sharper, wittier, and funnier. But for average summer fare, it’s okay. It’s far from perfect and runs on the long side, but rom-com and chick flick lovers will likely be satisfied.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Candice FrederickDecember 20, 2011 at 8:09 PM

    ha! i agree, ryan gosling kinda saves this film, mostly because of his near nudity. but i found the movie terribly disjointed. it started as a bromatic comedy, then fell to a cheesy romantic comedy. boo.

    ReplyDelete
  3. EricDecember 23, 2011 at 11:25 AM

    I just saw this a few days ago and agree with your review. It was decent enough, but I feel it would have been better if it had just ended after the family showdown scene. The last ten minutes or so really left a sour taste in my mouth.

    ReplyDelete

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