Crazy Stupid Love doesn’t know reality or love but attempts to be a connoisseur of both. It’s pretty much like every romantic-comedy released in the past 15 years. And like all those other films, it’s devoid of honesty.
To many, hearing me spout about the shortcomings of these films is like preaching to the choir. However, this is different. Crazy Stupid Love (the first two words describe the film perfectly) is directed by Glen Ficarra and John Requa. This is the time where you should say, “Who”? They both wrote Bad Santa and Bad News Bears and directed one of my favorite films of last year, I Love You Phillip Morris, a picture that had so much life and energy and avoided clichés and forced scenes.
So where did they go wrong here? For starters, how about that title: Crazy Stupid Love. Written by Dan Fogelman (famed to the Cars franchise and last year’s Tangled) the film follows Cal (Steve Carell), a kind and gentle father and husband who learns as the movie opens that his wife (Julianne Moore) wants a divorce. Worse, Cal learns she has cheated on him (what a new concept that is). He moves out and attempts to move on with his life while maintaining a relationship with his children.
As part of that attempt, Cal starts hitting the single bars. Unfortunately, Cal is not a ladies’ man. In fact he’s only had sex with one woman: his former wife. However, when a handsome womanizer, Jacob Palmer ,(Ryan Gosling) sees Cal lonely and without a clue at the bar he offers up his help and promises a change in Cal’s personal and sexual life. Why? He reminds him of someone he once new.
The film surprisingly becomes more complicated as time goes on. Subplots include Cal’s son proclaiming his so-called love for his babysitter – that same babysitter having the hots for Cal, Jacob finding a woman (Emma Stone) he may actually have feelings for and Moore’s character fighting off the man (Kevin Bacon) she cheated on Cal with in a moment of weakness.
Kevin Bacon, Ryan Gosling, and Steve Carell star in the film "Crazy Stupid Love"
It’s a wild, wild ride, with zero sense of direction. The film is a frantic and confused mess, landing smack-dab in the middle of nowhere. The movie is saved by its wonderful cast, though. Moore, Carell, Gosling, Stone, Bacon, and the always-lovely Marisa Tomei in a small supporting role all turn in charismatic performances.
But by the end of the movie, you’ll likely wonder why on Earth anyone just didn’t bother to sit down like a normal human being and have, you know, an honest, adult conversation. But then Crazy Stupid Love would have been only 15 minutes.
Simplicity is underrated: a concept directors Requa and Fogelman can’t seem to grasp with their film.
Rating: 
Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011)
Cast: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore
Director: John Requa, Glenn Ficarra
Writer: Dan Fogelman
Runtime: 118 minutes
Genre: romance, drama, comedy
I dug this film, man. I thought it was good fun, and I think the mass collaboration of plot arcs was ‘perfect’. I felt uplifted and happy for the rest of the day. Weird, huh? Carell and Gosling were great.
I’m glad you were uplifted Andy.