Crazy, Stupid, Love

Crazy, Stupid, Love is one of those romantic comedies that while you know it will have those romantic moments the comedy fuels it throughout. Upon seeing the trailer and knowing Steve Carrell was one of the main people in it, I knew it would be one that I would greatly enjoy because of the comedy and how funny I find Steve Carrell to be. After having had his heartbroken when his wife asks for a divorce, Cal Weaver (Carrell) goes to a bar to drown his woes. So after several nights of this, he is approached by player Jacob (Gosling) who offers to take him under his wing and to help him get over his wife by learning how to be a player too. While Jacob is the teacher he learns a lot form Cal as well.

Steve Carrell in the role of Cal Weaver, he plays the role so well that we truly feel the pain he is going through as the divorces process proceeds. Carrell plays the role so straight that it works absolutely perfect. His awkwardness in the role not only played well for laughs, but it is also a way that we have all gone through and been at, at one time or another in our lives. Ryan Gosling in the role of Jacob works great as well. The confidence he exudes in the role and the ease that he plays the role makes you feel like he has the ability to do anything and that he will be successful at it. The chemistry between Carrell and Gosling works perfectly as they are truly on opposites ends of the spectrum from their fashion sense to their ability to chat with women. In the two main supporting roles Emma Stone and Julianne Moore shine and are truly able to be strong characters. Stone continues to be a strong upcoming actress who is definitely becoming an "A-list" actress. Stone has really shown an ability to make each role her own. Moore's character is an interesting one in that initially she is an antagonist character to us for wanting the divorce from Carrell's character, but as the movie progresses we root for her to get back together with Carrell by the end of the movie.

The story for Crazy, Stupid, Love is not exactly what I was expecting for this romantic comedy. The story had truly a great flow to it, I did not feel bored or even find myself wondering where the movie is going. The interesting dynamic was the two main characters being Carrell and Gosling, which made the story interesting in that the romantic interests were in supporting roles. The story in my mind is a fresh twist on the romantic comedy because of the twist of our two opposite male leads and in the end they learn form each other just enough so that they are no longer opposites, but versions of their best selves. There is a great twist that happens in this movie that I did not see coming, but that is what allowed it to work because it was completely not expected in a romantic comedy. The story was intriguing to me since the movie in the end is truly about Carrell's character and Gosling's character in their journey to finding their true selves. The relationships they go through are only a subsidiary to the story.

The strong acting and good story would all be for naught if the comedy aspect of the romantic comedy was not there. Crazy, Stupid, Love was successful at being funny throughout. The timing between Carrell and Gosling worked worked so well that you instantly take a liking to them and laugh through their interactions from hitting on women to Gosling taking Carrell to buy a whole new wardrobe. Emma Stone brings a strong comedy sense to this role just like she gave in the movie Easy A. With the comedy it was great to see them be able to have funny moments in the trailer to gain interest, but once in the theater the funny parts were not just in the trailer.

Crazy, Stupid, Love is a movie that is not like other romantic comedies. Carrell and Gosling give great performances and the chemistry between them works really well. As a romantic comedy they are not only able to give us a romantic comedy with a twist that is far from expected. Crazy, Stupid, Love was a movie that was well worth the time to watch, which is why I am giving Crazy, Stupid, Love three and a quarter buckets of popcorn out of five. This is a movie that is great to watch with a loved one that you can cuddle up with throughout.

-The Movie Man