Monday, April 2, 2012

Stupid, Crazy Love (2011)

Just recently our entire family has been watching all of The Office episodes on Netflix, and are totally addicted.  I'm not sure I truly appreciated Steve Carrell until I saw these shows.  Now I think we would watch him doing anything.  


On the other hand, I do really have issues with romantic comedies.  They are all just so...inane and predictable.  Ugh.  This movie got so many great reviews though.  Entertainment Weekly was feeling some serious love towards it, and mentioned in every issue.  


Then there is Ryan Gosling.  Need I say more?




The premise seems a little pessimistic.  Middle-aged couple Cal and Emily (Steve Carrell, Julianne Moore) are deeply entrenched in their middle-aged life, raising a couple of kids and going through the motions, when Emily announces she has had an affair with a co-worker (Kevin Bacon) and wants a divorce.  Suddenly Cal is on the market again, but spends most of time wearing his middle-aged clothes and drinking sissy drinks at a beautiful people bar.



Plot thread #2 - Cal and Emily's 14 year old son has a forever crush on his 17 year old babysitter, who in turn has a crush on Cal.  


Plot thread #3 - Hannah (Emma Stone) has just gotten her law degree and suspects her boyfriend may have serious intentions with regards to their relationship.  But then again maybe not.  She is gorgeous and restless.


Plot thread #4 - Jacob (Ryan Gosling) is a pick-up artist that hangs out at Cal's bar, taking home a different girl every night.  One night he notices Cal and decides to "help" him by giving him an image makeover.


Pretty soon, all these entertaining and sadly familiar plot threads all intertwine.  In surprising and hilarious ways.  For all the talk about this movie, I was impressed that nobody had actually spilled any of the beans about the twists.  Watching it all roll out was lots of fun.  


Probably my favorite quote of the movie was when Hannah asks Jacob to take off his shirt (and thus we get that lovely picture above).  There is a pause.  Then Hannah shouts "F**K!  Seriously?  It's like you're Photoshopped!".  Indeed, Hannah.

There was lots to love about this movie, beyond Ryan Gosling's six pack.  The melancholy of finding yourself single at middle age was sweet and hilarious in the hands of Carrell.  It was easy to imagine any number of our friends looking and feeling just like him.  The games played by those in the bar scene.  The earnestness of a 14 year-old crush.  The game-changing epiphany of finding, or re-discovering, true love.


This movie is rated PG-13, but I thought it was right on the edge.  There is the one allowed F-bomb, and lots of sexual innuendo and themes (one-night stands, ripping off clothes in a frenzy, adultery, taking nude pictures of yourself, etc.).  Just a head's up for the kids on the 13 year-old end of the spectrum.


This one isn't an award-winner by any stretch of the imagination, but is enjoyable and better than most rom-coms.
  

18 comments:

bermudaonion said...

I thought this movie was cute but not outstanding. Carrell and Moore had no chemistry - I could see why they were getting divorced. I saw it at the theater and seeing Ryan Gosling take off his shirt was worth the price of admission.

Jenny said...

I loved this movie! And Ryan Gosling, of course!!

Peppermint Ph.D. said...

Is it scary that I don't know who Ryan Gosling is? :( The older I get I find this happening more and more...

caite said...

that poor man in the second picture looks chilly...someone get him a shirt.

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I also loved that quote. But I'm not enamored of either Carrell or Gosling (at least in the face - heh)

Meg @ write meg! said...

I saw this one with my boyfriend last year and really liked it! I was flabbergasted by some of the twists... not sure why I didn't see them coming, but that made it all the better! Ryan Gosling is definitely hot. Wow.

Jo-Jo said...

I went to see this one at the theater with my daughter and we both loved it! I mean what is not to love about Ryan Gosling being air-brushed? lol

Unknown said...

We rented it also didn't see some of the plot twists,coming. Not great but worth watching. Love the pictures you chose.

Kate @Midnight Book Girl said...

This movie surprised me, I ended up loving it! Although I'm pretty sure Gosling's awesome abs helped that along. ;)

Julie P. said...

There is no way my husband would agree to watching this one!

Zibilee said...

I had wanted to see this one, but it sort of got shoved in the back of my mind, and I forgot. Now you've got me thinking that this would be perfect for a Saturday afternoon. Thanks for the enticing review on this one!

Jenners said...

The shirt scene was pretty fun. And I was so surprised that I didn't see all the intertwining until way too late. I was surprised. (Mr. Jenners said he wasn't … but I think he likes to feel superior all the time.) It was a better than average rom-com.

Brooke said...

While I did enjoy the movie (who wouldn't with Ryan Gosling?), I was sad that Jacob and Hannah's story didn't get more screen time because they were more believable as a couple than Carrell and Moore.

Heidenkind said...

I'm not a huge Ryan Gosling fan, haha. He's not even that attractive unless he has his shirt off. :P

Melanie said...

I have to admit, I didn't see that huge twist coming! I love Emma Stone.

Melissa (Avid Reader) said...

I was surprised by how much I liked this one. I'm not usually a romcom fan, but this one had a bit more heart than most.

Melissa (Avid Reader) said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kathleen said...

I love The Office, love Steve Carrell and Ryan Gosling...I've got to see this movie!