Movie Review: ‘Crazy, Stupid, Love.’

Steve Carell has still got it. He’s like a bottle of Bordeaux wine, just getting better with age. In his production company’s debut feature—“Crazy, Stupid, Love.”—Carell’s performance is the perfect, powerful combination of laugh-out-loud humor solidified with earnest heart and introspection.

Written by Pixar veteran Dan Fogelman (“Cars,” “Bolt”), “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” is a rom-com-dramedy full of unexpected twists. Most movies these days are disappointingly predictable, and it was such a treat to enjoy each scene without any expectation of what will happen next.

In the first scene, protagonist Cal Weaver (Carell) is effectively dumped by his wife, Emily (Julianne Moore). She tells him she wants a divorce and admits to having cheated on him with her coworker David Lindhagen (played by none other than the ubiquitous Kevin Bacon).

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After 25 years of marriage, Cal is devastated. His seemingly perfect life quickly unravels as he moves out of his house and is forced into bachelorhood. He begins to frequent a local bar, where pretty-boy player Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling) takes him under his wing as a pet project.

Meanwhile, his 13-year-old son, Robbie, is beginning to experience teen love as he develops strong feelings for his 17-year-old babysitter, Jessica. The story gets progressively more interesting as we come to realize that Jessica has a crush on Cal, and also when Jacob meets his match in law student Hannah (Emma Stone), who appears to be immune to his pick-up lines and gestures.

While there have been countless movies made about love and its pitfalls, Fogelman’s version is refreshingly original and manages to appeal to all ages. At the center of the story are very real, tangible themes that we can all relate to no matter where we are in our lives. The characters are disarmingly engaging. Without even knowing it, the audience is swept off its feet by the beautiful screenwriting and brilliant acting.

Ryan Gosling, who is widely considered to be one of the brightest young stars in Hollywood today, almost steals the show from Carell. He perfectly embodies a gorgeous, shallow player with no depth ... until Hannah helps open him up, at which point we see a whole other side of Jacob.

The comedic chemistry shared by Gosling and Carell is so much fun to watch. The adorable Marisa Tomei also plays a small role, as one of Cal’s first conquests.

“Crazy, Stupid, Love.” will make you laugh, cry, swoon, and feel dejected. But ultimately, it’s a beautifully written story with a very strong cast of some of today’s most talented actors and actresses. The underlying message about the importance of love, and the fragility of love, leaves a warm feeling in your soul as you walk out of the theater. Wish there were more movies like this one.

[etRating value=“ 4”]