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Author
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Topic: Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)
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Mike Blakesley
Film God
Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 09-15-2011 02:36 AM
I didn't really watch this kind of movie much until I got married and started watching them with my wife. I was a bit more willing to see this one though, because I'm a Steve Carell fan. I think he deserves more respect as an actor.
This movie was surprisingly enjoyable, not so much due to Steve Carell -- he's fine, but he's downright subdued in this show -- but for others in the cast. Emma Stone was perfect in her role, and I really got a kick out of Ryan Gosling. The guy who played Steve's best friend was good too, he deserved more screen time. Kevin Bacon was funny as a bit of a buffoon. And the real surprise Johah Bobo, who plays the 13-year-old kid. He was hilarious when needed, but played the lovestruck teenager part to the hilt.
The only time the movie jumped the shark, to me, was at the very end when Spoiler Alert - Click to Toggle
the kid's 17-year-old crush gives him naked pictures of herself "to get him through high school." It would have been a lot better if the pictures had been revealed to be just nice close-up head shots, or something. By giving the kid the naked photos, the girl just comes off as a bit of a 'ho,' which I don't think the movie was trying to convey. (Well, I hope not.)
The movie also has one problem that all romantic comedies do, and that's the big speech at the end. There's always one character who has a big scene where he (or she) pours out his/her heart and wins back the girl (or guy). But in this case the big scene is sweet and heartfelt, and probably rings quite true with a lot of married couples.
Outside of my one objection mentioned above, I really liked this a lot. Probably the best rom-com I've seen in 5 years or more. I will give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
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Stu Jamieson
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 524
From: Buccan, Qld, Australia
Registered: Jan 2008
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posted 10-01-2011 07:26 PM
Amidst the current trend of comedies which walk the tight rope between comedy and vulgarity, Crazy, Stupid, Love marks a refreshing entry teetering upon the edge between comedy and tragedy. It's a delicate balance which escapes many (dare I say most?) film makers who are under the impression that making comedy is easy. Crazy, Stupid, Love makes no such allusions.
Crazy, Stupid, Love admirably goes for broke in it's quest for perfect comedy and very nearly hits the mark. It's mission is a difficult one, stepping about the minefield of relationship double standards is a tricky task and somewhat of a speciality for Steve Carell who has forged a career from uncomfortable comedy. Unfortunately Carell is not my favourite comic and this, combined with an over reliance on the charm of Ryan Gosling (his magic doesn't work on me either), results in a first hour which consistently veers towards the tragic where laughs are scant and the mood is dry. Julieanne Moore doesn't help much; she's great with drama but comedy? Not so much.
Thankfully the film picks up immensely in it's second half with Marissa Tomei and Emma Stone adding some much needed colour, both actresses adept at portraying drama from behind a thin facade of joy in stark contrast to the dour delivery of Carell, Gosling and Moore.
With the convergence of all the narrative threads, however, the film finishes very strongly and the cleverness of the script is revealed to be significant. A film of two parts for me, then: a good part and a bad part; thankfully finishing on the good part so that the overall impression of the film is positive.
7.5 out of 10.
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