jaybe1

(2012-05-01 20:35:56)

Has to be watched it's brilliant

I thought when I sat down to watch this that it would just be anothersilly film with Steve Carell in it but I couldn't have been more wrong.It's a very well written romantic comedy that looks at the life ofSteve's character Cal Weaver who has been asked for a divorce by hiswife and "soul mate". Ryan Goslings character Jacob sees that Cal isdistraught And offers to help him become a better man and a womanizerwith Some funny results. The film also looks at his 13 yr old sonscrush on his 17 yr old baby sitter that is also very entertaining. It'sjust a brilliant heart warming film with brilliant acting. Steve Carellis brilliant in it as is Ryan Gosling. Enjoyed every minute of it. Thebest romantic comedy I've seen to date hands down.

Daniel Moore

(2012-05-01 11:06:13)

Not what you might expect

On the surface that trailers supply for us, this film looks like arun-of-the-mill How Cal Got His Groove Back. We follow Carell'scharacter (Cal) after his wife, Emily (played by Julianne Moore)blurt's out over dinner that she wants a divorce. It's not a stunninghook, since we kind of already knew it was going to happen from thetrailer, but it works well. In a Rom-Com, that's basically what you arelooking for. New ways to freshen up a clichГѓВ©, or fresh takes onfamiliar situations. Crazy, Stupid, Love essentially lives in thelatter as we find Cal as the perfect dad who's only real sin here isthat he is content with his life and family, and it is the wife whogets cast in the shallow role.Simultaneously, we get the story of young Hannah (Emma Stone). She's anaspiring attorney who is about to take the BAR exam and really hopingthat clean cut, gosh-golly-shucks Richard (Josh Groban) will ask her tomarry him. If you want foreign, here it is. The sexy, brilliant girlwants Ned Flanders instead of smoking hot Jacob (Ryan Gosling). Totallya dude crush here. He's cut, he's not a high school football player wholoves country music, and he's definitely not hanging around some ladywith Alzheimer's. He's the ladies man who considers himself a gentlemanbecause he knows how to get her home, and get her to want him so muchshe basically begs for it.On the outskirts, a puppy love story between Robbie and Jessica. Well,sort of. Robbie is Cal's son and Jessica is his babysitter. Hilarityand awkwardness ensues. Honestly, this is one of the greatest treats ofthe film as Robbie (Jonah Bobo) carries the scenes between he and hisdad, and there is palpable tension between Jessica (Analeigh Tipton)and Cal's ex, Emily (Moore), as Jess has the requisite crush on thedad, and thinks Emily is crazy for leaving him.That is your basic set-up. The comedy style is little bit Carell, andlittle bit Americanized-British humor (awkward situations and socialfaux paux). The main reason I didn't give the movie 9or ten stars isbecause we have rich characters to play with and they barely scratchthe surface. We get an 80s montage of verbage from Jacob to explain whyhe hunts women the way he does, an unexplained purpose for thementorship of Jacob toward Cal (other than some character developmentfor Jacob), and some mind-blowing insight from a junior high student(Bobo) that we have no idea where he picked it up. The main point is tosay, if you like Carell, you'll like the movie. If you likeromantic-comedies, this one will twist you up and leave you delighted.If you are a fan of things like love and marriage, this film willremind you of some reasons you think people are crazy for not gettingmarried and taking a chance that this person might just be your soulmate. The characters are crazy, they do some stupid things, and, forbetter or worse, it is all for the glory of love.

hayley96

(2012-04-30 14:11:13)

just stupid love

So who is the movie about - 1) a 13 year old hung-up on his babysitter who doesn't look at all likean athlete but is a soccer star?2) The babysitter hung up on 13 year old's dad?3) Cal and his wife splitting up and reuniting after having the sexflings they never had as young adults?or 4) Hannah, Cal's daughter who hooks up with Cal's "guy" mentor bybreaking down his tough exterior and learns all about his personal lifewithout ever revealing that her parents are divorcing and their names?If this movie was a dog, you would go "bad dog" and try to teach towrite better scripts.

KineticSeoul

(2012-04-30 05:47:10)

Enthralling dramatic comedy that deals with love

When I first saw the trailer to this movie I wasn't excited to see itor anything like that since romantic comedies seemed to be just headingtowards just toilet humor a lot of times now a days. And just by seeingthe trailer I could sort of tell what the story was about and it turnsout I was wrong...And that is a good thing this time. Since the premiseisn't entirely original but it's much better than the direction itcould of went. A lot of the scenarios had a bit of the Asian drama vibeto it with everything that is going on, well a very condensed versionof it and with more of a American flare to it. The main positive thingabout this movie is that just about everything from the premise, thedirection, the characters and the jokes...It just works for the mostpart. I couldn't help but be entertained by whats going to happen next,I mean it's sort of predictable but it's how it's delivered that makesthis movie fun and enthralling to watch. The humor in this is actuallywitty, it's more of the serious but funny humor and doesn't rely ontoilet humor. It has a bit of sex humor than and there but it wasn'tannoying and for the most part it was sort of clever how it'sdelivered. Another thing that makes this movie work is the cast, almostall the cast fit right in with this movie and premise. Steve Carrelldid the whole mixture of comedic/serious thing almost perfectly andRyan Gosling played the ladies man really well, although sometimes itseemed like he was playing himself. All the rest of the cast put on agreat performance and I guess it's because of the performance but thechemistry although short at times was believable for the most part.Overall this is a dramatic romantic comedy that just about anyone wouldenjoy. Unless your one of those annoying teens with a single digit IQthat just makes stupid noises, take random pictures and hide behindchairs constantly while other audiences are trying to watch a movie.Which happened when I was watching this movie, to sum it up this isn'ta stupid comedy and isn't meant for stupid people that doesn't have thecourtesy to just enjoy a movie while not bothering other people.Anyways it may not be the funniest comedy but the direction of it allis what makes this movie great.8.2/10

paulalner

(2012-04-29 17:29:44)

Mediocre

I feel compelled to write as I can't believe the rating this movie has.We've seen it all before many times and this movie brings nothing new.OK let me begin, the first 40 minutes are funny, if it ended there itwould be 10, Carrell & Gosling give good performances and really gel asa duo but like so many comedies it loses it's way and the mid sectiondrags only to find that the finale is a big sentimental schmaltz thatreally shouldn't be present in a comedy. Why do American comediesalways do this (Sandler, Carrey)? It's better than Just go with it, itcouldn't be any worse!, and the performances are all first rate, it'sjust a pity the project is wanting.

(2012-04-29 06:07:15)

A funny and slick yet clever and unpredictable must see!.

Unlike many romantic comedies, Crazy Stupid Love manages to leaveaudiences satisfied with a smile.Another predictable comedy with few laughs due to cheesy lines andlittle relation to the characters is not what we need and thankfullynot what you should expect. One of the main aspects that makes thisfilm so watchable is the acting. All the actors play their partsconvincingly and with the right comic uniqueness their characterrequires. Julianne Moore, not exactly queen of comedy, delivers herlines with perfect comic timing as do those more familiar to comedysuch as Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling and Steve Carell. Jonah Bobo playingRobbie and model Analeigh Tipton as Jessica also play their parts sohilariously together as young teen crushing on the innocent babysitter.It is clear characters have been perfectly sketched to make them sodiverse in contrast to each other for not just successful comic effect,but also for the audience to relate to the characters which is donewith great ease. Another thing that makes this film so much better thanmost typical comedies is how unpredictable it was. Throughout the filmrealistic surprises you would never of expected pop up which is bothshocking and comical- its comically shocking. Those who have not seenthe film, I would recommend not to watch any clips that have beenreleased, but should wait for the film to grasp the full comedy thefilm offers there and then. Overall, without giving any of the plotaway this slick smart comedy is a must see, not just for the all starcast but for the perfect contrasting characters, comic timing,hilarious script and crucially, the different and unpredictable plotthat makes this film so hilarious. Without a doubt, a must see.

DeeDee7

(2012-04-29 02:49:00)

Meh - promising beginning, schmalzy ending

This movie starts out as a great divorce movie - sets up somecomplicated characters, and you see how these two people could trulylove each other and yet stumble into a divorce. Steve Carrel has somepersonal growth, ushered in through his unlikely new companion, playedby Ryan Gosling. Some funny little love triangles form, and dramatictension slowly builds as you wonder how much they might blow up (andthe payoff is good). There is a surprise third act twist, and then themovie just gets stupid. It ends up with some disappointingly sexistdouble standards made about casual sex. I recommend setting an alarmfor the last 15 minutes of the movie - make up your own ending, and itwill be better than the schmalz you see on screen. What a waste ofgreat actors. Gosling's character in particular remains 2-dimensional.

Ron Manke

(2012-04-28 14:03:08)

Awesome and funny movie that works on a lot of levels

I was pleasantly surprised, and really enjoyed seeing this movie at apremiere this week.I wasn't sure what to expect, so it took me a bit by surprise that itwas so funny and touching in a lot of ways.It seemed to try to demonstrate that every person in this world hasunique, loving, characteristics and that they might not be readilyapparent on the surface.It reminded me a lot of "Playing by Heart", and in some ways the lessenjoyable "Love, Actually".Those two movies had similar characteristics but weren't as funny asCrazy, Stupid, Love.The comedic aspects of this movie will appeal to the guys in theaudience that don't normally like sappy love stories, so overall thisis a movie that has something for everyone.Highly recommended, and I give it a 10/10 even though its not perfect(but what movie is?).

Brandon Blackwell

(2012-04-27 18:55:54)

"This is crazy. This is stupid. This is love"

A father's life unravels while he deals with a marital crisis and triesto manage his relationship with his children.For one, I saw this film by accident. Missing the anticipated showtimes of Horrible Bosses, I settled down for this. Not having the bestof intentions, I suspected an average comedy from Steven Carell. Butlighten up your expectations for this one folks, because it is possiblyone of the best romantic comedies of the year. The film not only has itlighthearted hilarity, it has a touching romantic side to it too. Thebalance between it was perfect for anyone suspecting either of the two.I must point out Ryan Gosling's performance as well. If you compare andcontrast his performance in this and Drive, you can tell the actor hassubstantial range. Some parts of this movie are a bit over-the-top,possibly being the ones that lowered the score, but nevertheless, I wasactually taken surprise by its unexpected heart. So that about wraps upthis one, I seriously recommend this to the romantic-comedy lovers.It'll definitely become possibly one of your favorites. If not, whoknows, you can be surprised by this movie as well. As did I. 8/10.

Troye Dchgl

(2012-04-27 12:24:23)

Realistic Comedy of Modern Love

Wow. "Crazy, Stupid, Love" is one of the top comedies this year.Depicting the story of a mid-aged father amid a marital crisis, thisfilm prevails as both as a drama and comedy.The first great thing is the unpredictability of the plot. You neverknow what happens next as the story unfolds. There are a lot of twistsfor dramatic and comedic effects and they unravel very well as thestoryline develops. With its appropriate pace and distinctive style ofportrait, it has the ability to make the audience burst out laughingand sobbing.The second plus is that the film is very realistic, full of momentsthat a lot of people may actually experience in their lives. It is anexcellent drama because it takes you through a roller coaster ofemotions. What's better is that it makes you feel everything in arelaxing environment most of the time. Sometimes, it can be depressing,and sometimes cheering, but most vitally, it is nothing too serious anddeep. After all, this is a comedy and even you are supposed to feel thesadness of the characters you can laugh at the same time. The message is clear and a great one too. Love is uncertain andunpredictable, but that does not mean we should give up on it. It'squite the opposite. Once you find the one true love, you must hold onto it and keep trying despite the hardship.This is highly recommended. It's a realistic drama with loaded funmoments and along with a great message and lesson for us all.

Philby-3

(2012-04-27 02:26:55)

Rom-com with a few surprises

As the movie opens Cal Weaver's humdrum but comfortable life as anaccountant in Beverly Hills is rudely shattered by his wife Emily(Julianne Moore announcing in a crowded restaurant that she's beinghaving an affair with a workmate and wants a divorce after 25 yearsmarriage. Cal (Steve Carell) moves out and drops in to the single barsscene where for reasons not entirely clear ("you remind me of someone")lounge room Lothario Jacob (Ryan Gosling) who beds a different gorgeouswoman each night takes Cal in hand and trains him to be just assuccessful. Meanwhile Cal's 13 old son Robby (Johna Bobo) has fallen inlove with the family's babysitter, High School student Jessica(Analeigh Tipton) who in turn has a crush on Cal. Then Jacob actuallyfalls in love, with young lawyer Hanna (Emma Stone) and Emily starts toyearn for her discarded husband.This all sounds like a conventional romantic comedy of the feel-goodvariety, but directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa and writer DanFogelman have a few surprises up their sleeves. The performances arefirst-rate and the dialogue crackling. There is some reliance onslapstick but also some real emotion conveyed. Ryan Gosling's Jacobmight perhaps be too shallow to be true ("you look like you've beenphotoshopped" says Emily, on seeing his torso), but it turns out thateven he has a credible backstory. As the principal lovers, Steve Carelland Julianne Moore exhibit a realism seldom seen in romantic comedy andthere is some fine comic work from Maresa Tomei as one of Cal's loungebar conquests who pops up a bit closer to home. At 120 minutes the filmis slow in places – I would describe the direction as quirky ratherthan slick (how else can one explain the cinematographer's penchant forshoe-level shots) but more rewarding than the average rom-com, andalthough the ending is contrived it's still satisfying.The directors, whose best known previous works, "Bad Santa" and "I LoveYou Phillip Morris" were decidedly quirky, have toned things down a bithere, but the characters are credible and sympathetic. I also liked theway the deep seated prudery and overdeveloped sense of decorum thatafflicts middle class Americans are sent up. After an unseemly thoughperfectly understandable brawl in the Weaver's picture perfect backyard it falls to Vietnamese-American Officer Huang to tell the warringparties to do their fighting inside where the neighbours can't hear. Ialso liked Cal's line as he is rejected again by Emily outside Robbies'high school after a disastrous parent teacher interview and it startsto rain: "This is such a cliché". Well I suppose anyone going to see arom-com ought to be prepared for clichés, but here they are cleverlyhandled, if a little sugar-coated.

robideau50

(2012-04-26 11:10:38)

Finally, a good comedy!

I could hardly wait for Hangover 2, it was terrible. Bad Teacher,another disappointment. All the funny lines were ran together for thepreviews and that was it. Horrible Bosses had potential but thecharacters were too dumb to be believable. Crazy, Stupid Love wasfinally a different story, just a simple, touching comedy. Not roll onthe floor, but thoroughly enjoyable to the very end. I would see itagain. I happen to think Steve Carell is one of the best comedic actorsand he proved it again in this movie.The surprise for me was how funnyRyan Gosling was. I would never have pictured him playing a characterthat I really liked. And Marisa Tomei was really an extra bonus, shewas perfect for her part.

jotix100

(2012-04-26 00:22:01)

Breaking up is hard to do

Imagine Cal Weaver's surprise at the end of what appears a nice dinnerat a good restaurant. For dessert, his wife Emily, undecided what toorder, asks him for a divorce. Cal's world collapses right under hisfeet. After all, having been married to a woman for twenty five yearsand whom he considered his soul mate, it was not in his book. Thereason for Emily's request is she has been seeing a man from heroffice. The Weavers are well off. They have three children, but theperson most affected by the news is Robbie, a teenager going throughsome changes.As Cal decides to move from the house, he must find a bachelor pad forhimself. Cal, who is an uncool man, must find himself a way to continuewith his life, something he finds inconceivable at his age. Cal beginsfrequenting a singles bar. He cannot get over the suave guy he watchespicking up women every night. It appears to him, the man always scores.One night, the man, Jacob, approaches Cal with a proposal: stop whiningand get a life. In fact, Jacob agrees to guide Cal into unchartedterritory.What follows is an almost miracle transformation of Cal. His luck withwomen is assured with his hew attitude. Cal scores big with Kate, ateacher, who is a sex animal. Cal cannot get his mind from Emily andthe family in spite of his new social graces. We watch him going atnight to tend to the garden without being seen by anyone. Robbie, hisson, has a crush on Jessica, the baby sitter Emily insists in engaging. The newly found life style does not bring happiness to Cal. Unknown tohim, Jacob met and fell in love with his grown up daughter Hannah,something that shocks him, knowing well about the reputation of theman. In reality, Jacob had a change of heart as he met the young woman.He is a new man, but Cal does not see it that way. It takes a lot ofconvincing for Cal to accept his former mentor as the boyfriend ofHannah. In fact, at Robbie's graduation from middle school the wholefamily comes together, as Emily realizes her mistake.A fun comedy directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Recqua, following theirsuccess with "I Love Your Phillip Morris". The screenplay is by DanFogelman. Although a bit formulaic, the film keeps moving at a greatpace as the situations keep the amusement. The creators have stayedaway from dwelling on Emily's deceit as well as Cal's sudden exploits,making it more real. The teenage angst of Robbie is examined in a lightmood.Not being a Steve Carell's fan, one has to recognize he does a betterjob, helped no doubt, by the direction he was given. He is an actorthat works perhaps too hard to be liked. The real performance in thepicture is Ryan Gosling, usually seen in more dramatic roles. Mr.Gosling keeps getting better all the time, doing an excellent turn asthe nice predator who always gets lucky. Julianne Moore has not much todo. Her relationship is not played too much. A wonderful small part forMarisa Tomei as Kate, the teacher. Emma Stone is also notable for thesweetness she brings to Jessica. Jonah Bobo and Analeigh Tipton do anice job as Robbie and Jessica. Kevin Bacon has little to do as thehome wrecker."Crazy, Stupid, Love" was one of the best comedies that came out in2011.

Jin Maruhashi

(2012-04-25 05:28:12)

Love devoid of artificial colorings

Realistic in its unpolished perspective towards love and uniquelyentertaining in its raw, disorganized humor, "Crazy, Stupid, Love"strays far from being a regurgitation of all other artificially sweetromantic comedies by a considerable amount. As predicted, Steve Carelladds his one-of-a-kind, awkwardly amusing touch that goes so well inpractically any comedy, this one not being an exception. Steve Carell'sgoofy attractiveness, conjugated with the more gallant and serious miendemonstrated by Ryan Gosling adds a pleasantly balanced overall mood tothe film. "Crazy, Stupid, Love", unlike most others in its category,centers its focus on both the blissful side and utterly disgruntled andhavoc-filled side as well, such an encompassing approach is what yieldsthe positive differential that sets it apart and incorporates an addedlevel of excitement.

Glock_Boy

(2012-04-25 07:23:46)

I loved it ... but the wife hated it.

I rented this movie thinking I would score big points in selecting afunny, romantic movie on the night of my wife's 43rd birthday.She ended up not liking it, but I, on the other hand, thought it was ahoot. So, guys, don't be surprised if you end of sleeping on the couchafter renting this one for your date or significant other.This film represents the romantic changes and challenges we face as wemature.Seen from all perspectives (15-year old boy, 18 year old girl,20-something bachelor, 40-something parents), you come away bewilderedat the complexities of love, marriage and relationships in general.How do we marry and keep it fresh after so many years? How does acareer bachelor finally find true love? How does a boy express feelingsabout his babysitter? How do we know we are with the right companion? Iliked this film because it touched a nerve with me, and spoke certaintruths that I hadn't considered before.My wife, on the other hand, couldn't get past the multiple triangles ofrelationship building (especially amongst the younger characters), andI think checked out mentally before she should have.This is a quality piece of work with some solid acting, characterdevelopment and a few surprises at the end. Oh yeah, it's pretty darnfunny too.

sallymom34

(2012-04-24 13:48:05)

Wonderful movie

I so enjoyed this movie! The acting and writing were excellent and Iwas very moved by the end. It was so enjoyable! In particular I lovedthe long scene where Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling fell in love over thecourse of an evening. They had amazing chemistry, she is really turningout to be a terrific young actress. And he is always spot on. It waswonderful. But everything was good! Sometimes Julianne Moore isn't thatsympathetic to me but I enjoyed her here very much. The same for SteveCarrell. This was his best work since the movie with Juliette Binoche(I loved that one, too, DAN IN REAL LIFE). As opposed to some of thegross out comedies of the summer, this one really trusted theintelligence of the audience. I hope these filmmakers continue on.

Tony Heck

(2012-04-24 11:56:47)

A rare "chick flick" that men will like too. Very funny comedy with heart, rent this for your girl and enjoy. I say A-

"I'm going to help you rediscover your manhood. Do you have any ideawhere you could have lost it?" Cal (Carell) and his wife Emily (Moore)are out on a date when she asks for a divorce. Devastated Cal turns toa bar where he meets Jacob (Gosling) a young ladies man who tries tohelp Cal through the tough times. When Cal learns to be like Jacob hestill feels like his life is missing something. Every once in a while a"chick flick" comes along that I really enjoy as much as my girlfriend.This is one of them. The cast alone is enough reason to watch it, butthis is a comedy with a lot of heart and I think would be good nomatter who was in it. Carell and Moore do a great job and Gosling isvery funny to watch. This is a movie that is pretty predictable fromthe beginning, but is still a very enjoyable movie to watch and keepsyou interested the entire time. I highly recommend this one. Overall, agreat movie that men, not just women will enjoy. I give it an A-.*Also try - Dan In Real Life & In Good Company

(2012-04-23 16:40:51)

HK Neo Reviews: Crazy Stupid Love

Crazy Stupid Love works because it put a lot of focus on characters,casting the right people and pure cynical-ism in the mix. Steve Carellis outstanding as the tormented soul turned player/father and EmmaStone steals scenes like she always does. As for Ryan Gosling, he isalmost unrecognisable as a ladies' man. One of the best pick up lineinvolves responding to a female target with "boring and impress me".Still, this film isn't about picking up, but rather about life and moredefined – the process of life in general. Unlike most films, the endinghere does not really matter, but rather the long process of gettingthere. A good film with good acting and probably something to say inthe process as well… Neo rates it 7.5/10.

newscreenname

(2012-04-22 19:26:00)

Predictable, but still one of those rare, good romantic comedies.

There isn't anything particularly groundbreaking or "Oscar worthy" in'Crazy, Stupid, Love', but what there is is a good deal of heart, somegenuine laughs, and a great chemistry-laden cast working together on avery high level.Fair warning though, this movie doesn't fit in with the current comedytrends all that well -- that is, if you're all about 'HangoverII'-esque humor, this is not the film for you. While it doesn't quiteget to the same level, it's very much in the same vein as 'LoveActually'.I wish we could give half points, because this was definite 8.5/10.

jburtroald95

(2012-04-22 19:13:23)

A cut above the rest

Over the past few decades, comedy has become a devilishly treacherousgenre, accumulating numerous convolutions for both the audience andfilmmakers ever since the word "comedy" semantically shifted from"lightweight drama with a happy ending" to "a nonstop rollercaster rideof laughs at the cinema". Story, characters, and even technical cinematic merit are usuallypushed aside, either by demand of the audience or the laziness of thefilmmakers, to make way for a riotous barrage of unevenly handled gags.In the event of a misfire – which, due to the unpredictablesubjectivity of humour, could happen at any time – the humoroussmokescreen is suddenly lifted from the eyes of any sophisticatedcinema connoisseurs and the sight of the big, fat, filthy, empty voidof a film that has been placed in front of them immediately disengagesthem. On the other hand, the more laidback moveigoers sitting aroundthem will most likely still be recovering from the excitement of theprevious bout of witticism and content to stare at the sexually-chargedscenery whilst waiting for the next funny moment. However, if there isa long-term humour drought – such as one that last throughout theentire movie – then both parties will completely lose interest, withthe former referring to the film as "pedestrian" and the latter callingit "gay".Fortunately for all, Crazy, Stupid, Love. does not even take the gamblein the first place. It delivers multiple multi-faceted and secretlyinterlocking stories and many genuinely interesting and entertainingcharacters for it to fall back on, and which provide the film with realsubstance and a reason for the gags to be there. Without such things,comedy movies are simply stand-up routines and movie musicals andmerely concert films – not that any members of the general publicreally care about this, but a film that goes down this lazy alleywaywill almost always become bait for pompous critics and hypocriticaleveryday cynics. These movies are all forgettable, momentaryphenomenons and huge and financial successes, but they also becamesubject to decades of relentless slandering after the fuss has dieddown, whereas films like Crazy, Stupid, Love. continue to haveaccolades and retain their popularity long after their release becausethey are uninhibited by a safe use-by date.Popular comedic actor Steve Carell is at the centre of the pieceplaying Cal Weaver, one those familiar down-on-his-luck middle-agedrecently divorced men, but Carell and the adept screenplay writer DanFogelman, against expectations, manage to render Cal in a way thatfeels fresh. In one of the most quick-witted and instantly engrossingopenings since last year's The Social Network we see him diningawkwardly in a restaurant with his wife, Emily, and are as shocked ashe is when she unceremoniously tells him that she wants a divorce. Yet,once again, a character that could easily have been a clichéd romanticcomedy staple is imbued with a satisfying complexity. Played by thevery graceful and prolific Julianne Moore, she adores her husband andthe cute chemistry between them remains very much alive, however muchit falters, for the entire duration of the movie, but after twenty-fiveyears of marriage, beyond the point of the sugar-coated upliftingdeclaration of young love that concludes most romantic comedies, she isbeginning to find that chemistry insufficient. The devastation reduces him to a sad, sorry, pathetic little drunkspending hours moaning about in a bar, a loser that quirky andcharismatic womaniser Jacob Palmer (a sensational Ryan Gosling) takespity on and decides to take under his wing. Under Jacob's guidance, Calsuccessfully woos and enjoys steamy one-night stands with nine prettywomen, no small feet considering he had previously only slept with onewoman. Among these seductions is a hilarious double-encounter withspirited tigress Kate (Marisa Tormei having an absolute ball). After awhile, Jacob starts to let his talented pupil play freely as he makessome big scores himself, most notably the lovely Hannah (Emma Stone)who has him particularly excited.Meanwhile, Emily is toying gawkily with the wispy upshots of heradulterated love affair with her oft-mentioned arrogant work colleagueDavid Lindhagen (Kevin Bacon), a fling which Cal and Emily's incrediblyprecocious and uncannily perceptive son Robbie (talented Zathura alumniJonah Bobo) can see put in the spanner in the works of the marriage,and always gives the evil to. He too is getting in on the romanticaction, having developed an irrepressible infatuation with his17-year-old babysitter Jessica (Analeigh Tipton) and, despite herobvious resistance, pursues her with astonishing. Despite theridiculousness of this 13-year-old's actions, he is just as aware ofhow it all seems on the outside as the jeering adults are, and onecannot help but empathise and identify with a character so reminiscentand truthful to the frustratedly never taken seriously child that weall once were.These interconnected scenarios are developed naturally and quietly, yetentertainingly, in the end producing a hugely satisfying, electricallycomical and genuinely surprising culmination at a point which wouldideally be the film's explosive finale, but as always precedes a lesshigh-spirited and gloomier last few concluding scenes that are usuallya maddeningly tedious and painfully predictable failed attempt atcreating pathos where it is neither wanted nor possible. However, inthis case it is perfectly possible and not entirely unwelcome, but itdoes still leave one feeling that the film was overly long.Nevertheless, this is brilliant work and makes for a highly enjoyabletrip to the cinema.