Both the Missus and I were feeling extremely run down last night, I because I had been up early and wrestled with football all day at work (lot of drinking for Louisiana-Monroe. What's up with that, Hawk fans?) Anyway, having taking a blessedly relaxing nap (both of us, I suspect were extremely warm and extremely comfortable on our respective couches) we managed to get up and decided that a change of pace and some fresh air might do us good, so we rolled on down to Sycamore Mall and took in 'Crazy Stupid Love.'
And I have to say, I was impressed. The movie tells the story of Cal (Steve Carell) and Emily (Juianne Moore) who have a comfortable life, wonderful kids yet find their marriage in crisis in middle age as they've- intentionally or not, drifted apart. Emily asks Cal for a divorce and Cal soon spends most of his time at a local ultra-modern, well lit watering hole where he spies the smooth, hip playah Jacob (Ryan Gosling) who seems to have no trouble at all getting with the ladies, while he just bemoans his wife's affair with her work colleague David Lindhagen (Kevin Bacon). Soon enough, Jacob befriends Cal, updates his wardrobe and soon Cal is getting on the seduction game as well, sleeping with a woman named Kate (Marisa Tomei) who is a teacher at his son's school.
While this is going on: Cal's son Robbie (Jonah Bobo) wrestles with his love for their baby-sitter, Jessica (Analeigh Tipton)- who in turn, being 17, has a crush on Cal. A young woman named Hannah (Emma Stone) resists Jacob's advances as the bar, spurning him for her safe, run of the mill, fellow lawyer boyfriend Richard (Josh Groban- whom I totally didn't recognize, btw.) but eventually, when Richard doesn't propose to her after she successfully passes the bar, she returns to the bar where she met Jacob, finding him, she intends to seduce him but instead they spend the night getting to know each other instead- and soon Jacob finds himself falling for Hannah.
Eventually everything gets tied back together in what you'd think would be a fairly formulaic rom-com type of way, however, there's a nice twist at the end that I didn't see coming at all. The talented cast really makes the movie work- and more importantly, avoid a lot of the rom-com cliches and formulas which seem to be so common to the genre. This is more Love Actually/Valentine's Day than 27 Dresses. Steve Carell does an excellent job at portraying the weariness of a middle aged husband who is genuinely and deepy hurt by his wife's infidelity. Julianne Moore is just excellent period. Emma Stone is hot- and funny. But the one that really stood out for me was Ryan Gosling- I tend to come across him in dramas or thrillers where he played tortured souls or misfits- but he really shows off his comedic skills with this role and he's great at it.
Overall- *** out of ****: This movie didn't exactly break new rom-com ground, but the cast is incredibly talented and the writing keeps the story original and far, far, away from the usual tropes and formulas. Worth a peek if you need a matinee to go to- definately worth a rent as well.
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